The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) offers a specialised clinic for preconception health of spouses to assess their overall health and provide necessary medical advice for a healthier and safer pregnancy. Dr Rand Abood, family medicine specialist at Omar Bin Khattab Health Centre, emphasises that the importance of this clinic lies in assessing the overall health of spouses and identifying any issues that could affect pregnancy.
It helps minimise potential risks to both the mother and the foetus through early diagnosis of diseases and disorders at least three months prior to planning pregnancy. The clinic also contributes to enhancing the chances of conceiving by offering lifestyle and nutrition advice. The clinic specifically targets women under the age of 50.
The services include evaluating the medical history and previous operations, conducting essential tests to detect chronic or genetic diseases that could be passed to children and providing nutrition consultations, emphasising the importance of a balanced diet that comprise vegetables, meats, and iodine-rich foods like fish and seafood, as well as prescribing folic acid at least three months before conception to prevent congenital malformations in the foetus.
The clinic also treats vitamin deficiencies like Vitamin D or B12, and mineral deficiencies like iron and magnesium. Furthermore, the clinic advises limiting caffeine intake to no more than 300 mg per day, engage in daily exercise routine of half an hour five times a week, and incorporating Kegel exercises for women to strengthen their pelvic and bladder muscles.
Dr Abood adds that the clinic highly recommends quitting smoking and avoiding passive smoking, with the option of being referred to a smoking cessation clinic available at most health centres. Spouses are also advised to avoid exposure to pesticides, toxic substances, and mercury-containing products such as certain skin creams, as well as to steer clear of alcohol intake. Additionally, men are warned against utilising saunas to preserve the quality of their sperm.
These services also include conducting tests in case of difficulty conceiving within 6 to 12 months of marriage, or when testing for sexually transmitted infections is necessary, along with the referral to recurrent miscarriage clinic if needed. The efficacy of vaccinations that a woman received in childhood are verified and renewed if required, and both spouses are advised to get the annual influenza and HPV vaccines. However, it is crucial to note that spouses should postpone conception for one month following the administration of specific vaccinations.
Dr Abood stresses the necessity of a follow-up with the physician three months after the couple’s initial health assessment, with the possibility of referral to the reproduction clinic for women or a urology clinic for men for further tests and fertility treatments.
It is recommended to postpone conception for six months after experiencing a miscarriage and to allow a spacing of at least one and a half year between births for women under the age of 35, with shorter intervals recommended as age increases. Additionally, attention is drawn to the importance of dental and gum health prior to conception.
Dr Abood asserts that the Preconception Clinic, accessible at health centres for citizens and residents, represents a vital step towards a healthy and safe pregnancy.
Dr Rand Abood
