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Are you thinking more and more about becoming a mom? This is a responsible decision, so check your he alth and treat any conditions that may affect you or your baby. We suggest what tests to do before getting pregnant.
Every woman wants herbabyto be born he althy. But for this wish to come true, you should know that the course ofpregnancywill be influenced by the condition of your body and your lifestyle.
Conscious motherhood does not start at conception. Most doctors believe that it is best to start preparing for pregnancy at least 6 months before conception. Then there is enough time to do tests, and if necessary - also to conduct a treatment, after which the body has time to clear itself of drug residues and return to form. That is why you need to talk to the gynecologist about your maternity plans early - he will carefully check your he alth and guide the preparations.
Just in case
It is worth checking if you have any changes in your breasts that could become malignant, because high estrogen levels during pregnancy significantly accelerate such processes. You should also do a general urine test. Perhaps, as a result of a history of urinary tract infection, you have, for example, changes in the kidneys - during pregnancy it can be dangerous for you.
Visit the gynecologist before the planned pregnancy
No disease of the genital tract is indifferent to the course of pregnancy. Infection, erosion, inflammation or mycosis may cause complications or adversely affect the developing fetus. These diseases do not have to be accompanied by such characteristic symptoms as discharge, spotting or pain in the lower abdomen, therefore, in order to detect the risk in advance, you should dotests .
- Cytology
This test involves collecting epithelial cells from the disc and the cervical canal and enables the detection of, among others, erosions and inflammations. Although the erosion itself is not a threat to pregnancy, it often increases under the influence of pregnancy hormones. It can also bleed, making the mother-to-be anxious. In addition, erosions are usually associated with inflammation. If left untreated, they carry the risk of cancer cells. ATwomen planning pregnancy are treated (if possible) pharmacologically - the idea is to avoid the formation of scars on the cervical mucosa, which could make it difficult to get pregnant. The gynecologist prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs that stimulate the erosion to heal and periodically checks the lesion (the healing process of erosions may take up to several months). If discharge occurs during the treatment, the doctor additionally recommends vaginal globules. Such therapy is possible, however, when the erosion is small, and for larger erosions, other methods are used - laser, cryotherapy, electrocoagulation.
- Vaginal cleanliness test
Bacteriological evaluation of vaginal discharge allows you to identify the presence of inflammation and determine its cause, e.g. bacterial or fungal infection. Chronic vaginitis usually spreads to the cervical canal, then to the endometrium, fallopian tubes, appendages, and sometimes to the urethra. As a result, the infection can make it difficult to get pregnant, and the baby can become infected.
Treatment of bacterial and fungal vaginal infections (quite often they are mixed infections, both at the same time) usually takes 7-14 days and is relatively simple, as long as the treatment is carried out by both partners. Otherwise, there is a ping-pong effect, i.e. mutual infection and relapse. The treatment uses sulfonamides, antibiotics and antifungal preparations - orally and vaginally, and in the case of treating infections in men - in the form of ointments.
- ultrasound of the reproductive organ, performed through the vagina (transvaginal)
Reveals, inter alia, structural defects and the presence of uterine tumors. Myomas (tumors of the uterus) can make it difficult or even impossible to become pregnant. During its duration, they also cause problems, because under the influence of sex hormones, they increase rapidly and can cause miscarriages.
Pharmacological treatment of fibroids (leading to their reduction) does not work for women planning pregnancy. They are possibly used as a preparation for a surgical procedure, because only surgical removal of these tumors prevents complications during pregnancy. Depending on the size and location of the fibroids, they are removed laparoscopically, through the vagina or with traditional abdominal surgery.
Pre-pregnancy tests: blood tests
Blood tests are no less important than gynecological tests. They provide information with which many threats can be anticipated and prevented.
- Morphology
It will show if you do not suffer from e.g. anemia (most often due to iron deficiency). During pregnancy, it worsens and can pose a risk ifor the mother-to-be and the proper development of the child.
- Glucose
The test can detect diabetes, which until now has shown no symptoms. The disease must be controlled before pregnancy, as fluctuating blood sugar levels and diabetes are very dangerous for the fetus.
- Blood group and Rh factor
Both you and your partner must undergo this examination. When it turns out that you are Rh- and the future father is Rh +, there is a risk of a serological conflict. It will occur if the baby inherits the Rh + factor from the father. Then, during the second pregnancy, the mother's immune system attacks the baby's blood cells that enter her bloodstream. The consequence is hemolytic disease of the fetus, which can lead to its death. To prevent conflict, a gamma globulin injection is given to the mother after the first pregnancy.
- Thyroid hormone levels
Too low may prevent you from becoming pregnant or cause a miscarriage, and too high may result in premature birth. That is why it is worth checking and, under the supervision of an endocrinologist, leveling them.
- Test for cytomegaloviruses, rubella and toxoplasmosis
It will show if you have antibodies that testify to these diseases and protect you from a recent infection. Getting infected during pregnancy could lead to infection of the fetus, resulting in, among others, disorders and delays in the mental development of a child.
Your doctor may recommend other tests - so that your pregnancy goes smoothly.
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