Wedding Plans and Health

If wedding plans have you planning for your special day, there are a few things you should do to make sure that you are a healthy bride. While, getting married is a special, exciting, and busy time that most women dream of from the time they are little girls, there is more to getting married than flowers, dresses, and saying "I do." Before you marry the love of your life, you should have a few health checks to make sure that you are in tiptop shape health wise.

• If you haven't already been having yearly Pap smears and gynecology exams, now is a good time to schedule a visit. You should have a Pap smear, and a complete pelvic exam to check for any abnormalities.
• Now is a good time to discuss your plans for either contraception or potential pregnancies. Your doctor can also help you decide which type of birth control is best for you and your future fertility.
• Genetic testing is sometimes desired before marriage for certain couples whose plans include the possibility of having children. Your health care providers can help you and your spouse decide if genetic testing is necessary.
• Some couples choose to be childless and may decide that they desire either tubal ligation or vasectomy, even before the marriage takes place. Other couples who have previously undergone permanent sterilization, and who now want to have children, may wish to have either tubal ligation or vasectomy reversal.
• Now is an excellent time, if either of you have had previous sexual relationships, to be tested for HIV and other STDs. Undiagnosed sexually transmitted diseases such as pelvic inflammatory disease can have a devastating effect on your future fertility.
• A complete general physical exam that includes laboratory testing and a discussion about your family medical history and potential health risks is important for both you and your future spouse. Make sure that your immunizations are up-to-date at this appointment.
• If you plan to honeymoon outside the U.S., you should discuss any special precautions that you may need to take.
• If after all your wedding planning is done, you discover that your period is due during your honeymoon, talk to your health care provider several months in advance about using contraceptives to delay the onset of menstruation. Many health care providers now prescribe long-term use of the Pill to reduce or eliminate menstruation.