Preconception Health
Are You Trying to Conceive? Book an Affordable Preconception Health Appointment!
A preconception health appointment is a visit with a practitioner that ensures you are healthy and ready to sustain a pregnancy. This appointment gives your provider the opportunity to examine your current health and health history while also giving you the opportunity to ask any important questions regarding family planning and obtain answers from a medically accurate source.
What is Preconception Health?
Preconception health is the state of your health before pregnancy. Improving it can boost your chances of conceiving and having a healthy baby. Factors like your health history, lifestyle, medical conditions, medications, genetics, and even your partner’s health all play a role.
Preconception Health Isn’t Just for Women – It’s Important for Men Too.
While we often associate preconception health with women, men’s health also plays a key role in fertility and conception. Factors like STDs, lifestyle choices, and medical conditions can affect male fertility, so it’s important for men to focus on their health before trying to conceive.
What can I plan to discuss during my Preconception Health appointment?
Expand the sections below to learn more about what may be covered during your appointment.
Your Pregnancy Plan
Do you desire to have children? Is there a time frame within which you’d like to conceive and how do forms of contraception and your cycle play into conception timing? Have you become pregnant before and were there any complications? Have you had difficulty conceiving in the past?
Topics like this all have a likelihood of being explored when discussing your plan for your pregnancy with your provider. Your provider may also have insights into how to increase the likelihood of becoming pregnant by timing your window for fertility, so take advantage of this opportunity to ask them.
Health History & Medical Conditions
Your provider will likely ask about your health history, including medical conditions and your last annual exam results. Conditions like STDs, high blood pressure, thyroid issues, diabetes, and PCOS can affect pregnancy outcomes. Some STDs can reduce your chances of conceiving, so your provider may recommend screening for both you and your partner.1
Your provider may also review your vaccination record, as getting vaccinated before pregnancy can protect both you and your baby. Certain vaccines, like the MMR and Varicella, should be given before pregnancy, not during.2
Your Medications
Some medications you’re currently taking may be fine to continue, while others your doctor may advise you to stop for a successful pregnancy. Medications for psychiatric conditions, cholesterol, Retin-A (for acne), and even over-the-counter ibuprofen should not be taken during pregnancy. It’s important to discuss all your medications with your provider and get their approval on what’s safe to take.3 Never start or stop any medication without consulting your doctor first.
Taking Supplements
4Your provider may recommend certain supplements to support a healthy pregnancy. The CDC advises taking 400mg of folic acid daily, starting one month before conception and continuing through pregnancy, to help prevent neural tube defects like anencephaly and spina bifida.4 Your provider will likely also encourage taking prenatal vitamins, which provide folic acid along with other important nutrients for a healthy pregnancy.
Genetic Factors & Family History
Reviewing your family history can help identify factors that may affect your chances of pregnancy or your baby’s health. The CDC advises sharing any family history of conditions like sickle cell or heart defects, as these can have genetic implications for your child.5
It’s important for both you and your partner to discuss any genetic conditions with your provider. They may recommend genetic counseling if needed, especially if you’ve experienced infertility, multiple miscarriages, or genetic issues in previous pregnancies.
Avoiding Toxic Substances
Substances like fertilizers, bug spray, heavy metals, and feces can harm the reproductive system and increase the risk of diseases.6 Exposure at any stage of life can have lasting effects, so it’s important to identify and avoid toxic environments, especially before becoming pregnant.
Lifestyle Choices & Weight
Avoid Alcohol, Smoking & Caffeine
While it may be common knowledge that alcohol and cigarettes (including secondhand smoke) can harm a baby during pregnancy and are strongly discouraged, avoiding these substances when trying to conceive is also recommended. While research is divided on whether drinking 1-2 alcoholic drinks daily negatively affects fertility, the act of smoking cigarettes has been proven to decrease fertility in both men and women.7 Additionally, your doctor may also encourage you to decrease your caffeine intake, if applicable.
Regardless of the substance, abstaining from or limiting (in the case of alcohol or caffeine) the rate at which you partake may increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy.
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Research shows that being both overweight or underweight during a pregnancy can result in adverse outcomes such as premature birth, diabetes and high blood pressure.8 In order to ensure you are healthy, your doctor may examine your BMI (Body Mass Index) which is an estimate of your body fat percentage based on the ratio of your height to weight, which can indicate whether you need to lose or gain weight. Additionally, your practitioner may explore the importance of a healthy diet with you coupled with physical activity and exercise.
Take Control of Your Preconception Health Today.
While it is always important to maintain good health whether trying to become pregnant or not, it is strongly recommended to start prioritizing your health if you are planning on conceiving in the future.
Encourage your partner to participate in a routine screening with you and book your preconception appointment at an Obria clinic near you today.
References:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, February 15). Planning for pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/preconception/planning.html
2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, February 15). Planning for pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/preconception/planning.html
3.Conti, J. (2022, December 12). An OB-GYN’s guide to your preconception appointment. Ro. https://ro.co/health-guide/preconception-appointment-guide/
4.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, February 15). Planning for pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/preconception/planning.html
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, February 15). Planning for pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/preconception/planning.html
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, February 15). Planning for pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/preconception/planning.html
7. Conti, J. (2022, December 12). An OB-GYN’s guide to your preconception appointment. Ro. https://ro.co/health-guide/preconception-appointment-guide/
8. March of Dimes. (2020, September 1). Getting ready for pregnancy: Preconception health. March of Dimes. https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/planning-baby/getting-ready-pregnancy-preconception-health