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Pre-pregnancy Tests Is The New Trend Among Couples

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin
December 2, 2020
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Couples these days are opting to meet a doctor before planning a pregnancy to make sure everything is alright with them. Pre-pregnancy tests or preconception care is now becoming a common practice offered by obstetricians & gynecologists.

While this may not always be necessary, but to make sure that you and your partner don’t have any conditions or illnesses that could affect pregnancy or chances of becoming pregnant can make a difference. Getting the right advice about exercise, eating, lifestyle and folic acid supplement can increase chances of conception and reduce the risks of miscarriage or birth defects.

Why is consulting the obstetrician important prior to conception?

Preconception counseling or preparing for pregnancy is mandatory for the benefit of the mother and the baby. A woman’s health prior to conception and during pregnancy is critical to the outcome of the pregnancy and may have a lifelong impact on her baby’s health for two main reasons:

1. To detect and assess any specific health problem in the woman or the partner so that they can be managed appropriately prior to pregnancy.

 2. To obtain general advice about optimizing health care and lifestyle with pregnancy in mind. A woman should undergo a detailed medical examination including breast examination and Pap smear.

What are Pre-pregnancy Tests

Dr. Akhila Sangeetha Bhat, OB
GYN, Chennai

Dr. Akhila Sangeetha Bhat, a gynecologist from Chennai, does pre-pregnancy work-up or preconception care for aspiring parents. “There are many married couples who are coming forward now to opt for an assessment of their bodies keeping family planning in mind. These are mostly women with hormonal imbalance, obesity, irregular periods who have been trying for conception. So basically they want to know if they are fine and can go ahead with planning for the child.”

What comprises this pre-pregnancy tests or preconception care?

“This is a basic health check-up which consists of complete blood work, hemoglobin profile and hormonal work, along with a basic scan and hormone investigations. This mostly clears the air of any abnormalities that they may need to worry about like low hemoglobin, hormonal imbalance, polycystic ovaries, etc and we know specifically what needs to be sorted beforehand”, says Dr. Bhat.

Blood tests and a pap smear may be done to rule out any medical conditions that could affect pregnancy or chances of conceiving. For men, a semen analysis can help in determining sperm motility. Illnesses such as Rubella, or German measles immunity, Chickenpox immunity, HIV, Hepatitis B immunity, Herpes, other STDs (such as chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea),  thyroid problems (with a TSH test), and other conditions may be tested for.

Genetic Profiling

A genetic profile is not generally required until and unless the family of the couples has a history of genetic abnormalities.  An incidence of male infertility, female infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, history of autism, ADHD, down’s syndrome, vitiligo, albinism, glycogen storage disorder,  are a few things that need to be watched out for in the family and brought to the attention of the doctors so that necessary genetic profiling can be done to identify or rule out any such abnormalities.

Sickle cell anemia, Thalassemia (an inherited form of anemia), and genetic diseases common in the population are done depending on the ethnicity of the patient.

While some may think that this is unnecessary and not required, a little prep and precautions before starting a family can make a difference in many cases especially with the many lifestyle diseases that are popping up nowadays even among the young.

Dr. Akhila Sangeetha Bhat can be reached at 099728 99728
biological clockEarly signs of pregnancyIrregular periodMenstrual cyclePeriod trackerWomen’s health issue

Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin

Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin has done her masters in Journalism & Communication and has worked as a senior journalist, editor and columnist for leading publications like The Logical Indian, Deccan Chronicle, Worldwide Media Corporation, The Bridge and Provoke.
With Infano, she hopes to create more awareness about women’s health issues. Suffering with Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, she has also been advocating for its awareness through media.

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Being Asexual– This Actress’ Revelation Will Melt Your Heart!

Written By: Infano
January 22, 2021 | 02:27 PM |
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A popular name in the television industry, Sriti Jha has wooed her audiences with her endearing performances in blockbuster shows like Dil Se Di Dua, Saubhagyavati Bhava and Kumkum Bhagya for many years.

Sriti Jha is yet again winning hearts and this time the reason is more personal. An old video of Sriti reciting her poem ‘Confessions of a Romantic Asexual’ has gone viral. The video is from Spoken Fest held in Mumbai in January 2020. It has Sriti Jha candidly and confidently sharing her experiences about being an asexual.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CJ9EZqRhoIl/?utm_source=ig_embed

Most of us have little knowledge about asexuality. It is what the ‘A’ stands for in LGBTQIA. The poem touches upon most of the curious questions and misconceptions we have about asexuality.

What is Asexuality?

Asexuality is a sexual orientation, just like homosexuality, bisexuality, and heterosexuality. It describes a lack of sexual attraction. Asexual people may experience romantic attraction, but they do not feel the urge to act on these feelings sexually. They have the same emotional needs as everyone else, but no sexual yearning.

“You can feel all the butterflies,

And your heart skip a beat for someone,

And yet not want to do “it”. 

Does that make your love any less?

Does that make you incomplete? “

–Excerpt from ‘Confessions of a Romantic Asexual’

Abstinence, Celibacy, Asexuality – it is not the same

Abstinence is about deciding not to have sex. This is usually temporary. For example, many people decide to abstain from having sex before marriage.

Celibacy is a voluntary vow of sexual abstinence. In some cases, it can also be a promise to remain unmarried. In most cases this is usually for religious reasons and is often a lifelong commitment.

Abstinence and celibacy are choices. Being asexual is not a choice, it is who you are and that is what makes it completely different from abstinence and celibacy.

This is not to prove me greater.

I do not celebrate celibacy,

I am not a sex hater”

–Excerpt from ‘Confessions of a Romantic Asexual’

Not a medical condition or any hidden “cause”

One tends to find reasons for every feeling that does not conform to the “normal”. Feeling sexually attracted to someone might seem natural to the majority of the people. Lack of this sexual attraction is often labelled as a medical condition or perceived as an outcome of past trauma or fear.

There may be various reasons of low sexual attraction in certain people, but what asexual people feel is not a medical condition. It is not genetic. It is not due to trauma. It is not due to stress. It is normal. And there is nothing to be fixed.

“When I said “no” I meant “no,” 

They said you’ve got to try a little more,”

–Excerpt from ‘Confessions of a Romantic Asexual’

Love? Relationship? – Is it possible when you an Asexual?

Love, sex, relationship are words we use so frequently with each other, that it is difficult for us to imagine removing one (that is, sex) completely from the equation. An asexual person might not experience sexual attraction, but they might still experience romantic attraction. Relationship with an asexual person is likely to involve love, closeness, fun, trust, humour and excitement just like sexual relationships. Asexual people are perfectly capable of intimacy and love, just not in sexual ways.

“I had felt wow in hugs and kisses.

I had felt wow every time fingers had run through my tresses.

But beyond a point, when it went, I was left alone.

So I learned to lie in words in moans.”

–Excerpt from ‘Confessions of a Romantic Asexual’

The poem strikes the right chords, so much so that we tend to forget momentarily how taboo this topic is. The poem gives us an understanding of what an asexual person goes through. Most of all, it does not leave us feeling sorry for the poet. It leaves us admiring the courage that Sriti Jha showed in opening up to the world and asking for acceptance and nothing else – for her and for others like her. As she defiantly ends her poem –

“I am asexual, 

I’m not the only one

I am everything I need to

Better recognize me now.”

asexualLGBTQIA+loveMisconceptionsrelationshipsocial issueSriti Jha

Infano

Infano is a platform that aims to impact every facet of a woman's life - health, career, motherhood, lifestyle, and much more. We are a team of like-minded individuals who wish to be a support to women from all walks of life and in everything they do. Our aim, through our posts and articles, is to bring to light the issues and problems that women face in their day-to-day life, to try and make their life a little easier and a little better, provide the latest news updates of women around the world, and to highlight their big and small achievements. We celebrate womanhood each and every day.

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