In an ideal world, 6 months before my patients start trying to conceive, I get them in for a preconception consult.

Why?

So many aspects of fertility & pregnancy are out of our control. However, for those few things that aren’t, with a bit of education and some simple tests, you can ensure your best chance of falling pregnant with a healthy pregnancy and minimise the risk of preventable issues.

In a nutshell, this includes:

  • General health assessment & exam. This may include a blood test to check thyroid function, iron stores, and blood sugar levels, depending on your history
  • Medication review, including over-the-counter supplements
  • Check you’re up-to-date with your vaccinations and are immune to Rubella & Varicella.
  • Check you’re up-to-date with routine screening – Cervical Screening & Dental hygiene.
  • Check in with your mental well-being
  • Discuss you and your partner’s family history &ethnic background, to assess the risk of genetic conditions, and education about the options for preconception genetic screening.
  • Discuss prenatal folic acid and iodine supplements
  • Assess the risk of potential toxin exposure at your home/work
  • Education about fertile windows, frequency of intercourse, expected time frame to fall pregnant, and what to do if not pregnant by then
  • Education about lifestyle factors to optimise your health for pregnancy and fertility
  • Discussion about what your partner can do to optimise their fertility
  • Finally, discuss models of pregnancy care and ensure you have the right level health insurance if you’re planning private obstetric care.

As you can see, there is so much to cover!

I will do some posts on each of these important areas soon. In the meantime, if you are thinking of starting your family, do yourself and your GP a favour and book a long consult, so you can cover all the important bits and bobs!