What Is the Purpose of Premarital Health Check-Up? Is It Mandatory to Have a Premarital Health Check-Up?
What are the steps for premarital health check-ups?
Based on Clause 20, Article 2 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023, health examination is defined as the process of checking to determine health status, classify health, or detect and manage diseases.
According to Article 10 of the Professional Guideline on Counseling and Premarital Health Examinations issued together with Decision 25/QD-BYT in 2011, the steps for conducting health examinations are as follows:
Step 1: Reception and completion of administrative procedures
Clients undergoing health examinations are responsible for providing complete, accurate, and honest personal information, current health status, history of reproductive system activities (menstruation, pregnancy, etc., ejaculation...); their own and family’s medical history.
Step 2: Health check-up according to the Ministry of Health guidelines
- Physical examination: Measure height, weight, chest circumference, BMI index, pulse, temperature, blood pressure, and respiratory rate.
- Clinical examination according to specialties.
- For females
+ Identify functional signs: inquire about the history of internal and external diseases; especially the history of obstetrics and gynecology.
+ Breast examination, external genital examination: pubic hair, vulva, labia majora, labia minora, hymen, nature of vaginal discharge.
+ Vaginal examination (including taking vaginal discharge for testing) is only performed upon request for definite diagnosis and must have the client's consent. If the client does not agree, explain the reason and suggest that the examination could be done via the anus, rectum.
- For males
+ Identify functional signs: inquire about the history of internal and external diseases; especially the history of trauma, orchitis, sexually transmitted diseases, ejaculation, erection.
+ Genital examination (including taking urethral discharge for testing): testicles, penis, pubic hair, and rectal exam when necessary.
- Paraclinical examinations
+ Chest X-ray (straight or lateral).
+ Blood tests: Blood formula, hemoglobin, blood sugar.
+ Urine tests: Sugar, protein, cells.
+ Fresh examination of vaginal and urethral discharge.
In cases of suspicion, guide continued specialized examinations to determine the disease and provide treatment guidance.
Step 3: Specialized examination as prescribed by the doctor
Step 4: Conclusion of health examination results
Based on clinical and paraclinical examination results, the examining doctor signs the health certificate, health examination book, and concludes the health status of both the male and female preparing to marry.
Steps for premarital health check-ups? Is premarital health check-up mandatory? (Image from the Internet)
Is premarital health check-up mandatory?
Article 5 of the Professional Guideline on Counseling and Premarital Health Examinations issued together with Decision 25/QD-BYT in 2011 states:
Principles of premarital counseling and health examination
1. Voluntary;
Respect for personal privacy and ensuring confidentiality;
Compliance with current law.
Article 25 of Decree 104/2003/ND-CP stipulates:
Health check-up before marriage registration
Encouraging men and women to undergo health check-ups before marriage registration including contents related to genetic diseases; sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS infection.
The health check-up facility informs the results and advises on the impact of the disease on health for both men and women; ensuring the confidentiality of health check-up results as per the law.
One of the principles of premarital health check-ups is voluntary. Therefore, men and women before marriage can undergo health check-ups as needed.
What is the purpose of premarital health check-up?
Article 1 of the Professional Guideline on Counseling and Premarital Health Examinations issued together with Decision 25/QD-BYT in 2011 stipulates the purpose of premarital health check-up. The aim of premarital health check-up is to:
- Provide counseling and health examination for males and females preparing to marry, especially adolescents and young adults, to detect, prevent, and provide treatment guidance for diseases that could potentially affect health during marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
- Identify risks of giving birth to babies with congenital diseases or disabilities, contributing to ensuring a sustainable marriage and improving the quality of the population.
