Preparing for Your Doctor’s Visit
Your doctor may ask questions concerning your health. These include:
- The type of birth control you are on-this often determines how long it will take to conceive after you stop contraception. Read more on contraception here.
- Your menstrual cycle- If you have been actively charting your cycles, an answer to this should be easy.
- Your diet and lifestyle-This is a necessary question as your doctor may seek to find out whether you have anything in your diet or lifestyle that may reduce your chances of getting pregnant.
- Medication that you are on-certain medications may interfere with the process of conception. Letting your doctor know about this will inform his next course of action.
- Any existing conditions that you currently have i.e. asthma or high blood pressure- this will help your doctor to know what to treat before conception or manage during pregnancy.
- Family history-certain conditions like type 2 diabetes are hereditary. Knowing you family health history will help in managing any possible complications during pregnancy.
Tests During Your Visit
Certain tests to check your health and the health of your reproductive system may be done by your doctor. These include:
- Blood pressure test
- BMI
- Urine test
- Pelvic, breast and abdominal check
- A pap smear
Blood test to check haemoglobin count, Rh factor and immunity to diseases such as:
- Rubella
- Chickenpox
- Tuberculosis
- Hepatitis b
- Toxoplasmosis
These diseases often affect pregnancy or risk the health of the newborn baby.
Screening for any genealogical conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, polycystic cysts, benign tumors and pelvic inflammatory disease is done.
Women who are above 35 years old may have additional tests done. These include:
- Blood test to check progesterone levels, follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol in different stages of your cycle to determine your level of fertility.
- A test for the male hormone testosterone may be required.
Dentist Work Up
Gum disease associated with complications of pregnancy such as preterm labor, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes will need to be treated.
Any dental work such as filling x-ray or gum surgery can be done to avoid doing them when you are pregnant.
Vaccines that you may be asked to get
- Measles, mumps and rubella
- Chickenpox
- Hepatitis b
- HPV (human papillomavirus)
With this cleared you can know have the confidence of trying to conceive knowing that your health is well taken care of.
Disclaimers:
Please note that development differs from one child to another.
Content intended for educational purposes only, and not a substitute for medical advice from your doctor.
Be careful when using any products mentioned on this website. We hold no regulations for such products or their providers.
Last reviewed April 2019
Sources: whattoexpect, mother, everydayhealth
