TL;DR
- A premarital health screening covers key tests to identify hereditary, infectious, or metabolic conditions that may affect your health, fertility, or pregnancy outcomes.
- At W Gynae, this package starts from $528 per couple, with optional add-ons such as Pap smear and chlamydia testing.
As couples in Singapore marry later and bring more lived experience into their relationships, transparent conversations about fertility, genetics, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are becoming more common. This pragmatic approach to shared responsibility in marriage has contributed to a rise in premarital health screenings between 2022 and 2023.
Read on to learn what’s included in a premarital health screening and how it supports long-term family planning.
What Is a Premarital Health Screening and Why Couples Choose to Do It
A premarital health screening is used to identify hereditary, infectious, or metabolic conditions that may affect your health, fertility, or pregnancy outcomes.
It’s responsible family planning, according to many Singaporean couples, not just for those hoping to conceive, but also anyone wanting to start a marriage with transparency and vulnerability.
Sharing your health information early also allows you to make informed choices about contraception, fertility options, and long-term care.
What Tests Are Included in a Premarital Health Screening
At W Gynae Women’s Clinic, we offer a premarital health screening package that combines physical examination, blood and urine analyses, imaging, and optional add-ons like Pap smears or chlamydia testing.
Here’s what’s typically included, and why each test matters.
1. General Health Assessment
This is the foundation of every premarital health screening. A general assessment is basically a medical review, followed by tests that establish a baseline for your health.
Core laboratory tests include:
- Full Blood Count (FBC): Evaluates red and white blood cells and platelets to detect anaemia, infection, or immune-related issues. Anaemia, for instance, is common among women and can cause fatigue or complicate pregnancy.
- ABO and Rh Blood Grouping: Determines blood type compatibility, which is vital for pregnancy management and emergency transfusions.
- Diabetes Screen: Measures fasting glucose levels to identify early insulin resistance or diabetes, both of which can affect fertility and pregnancy outcomes.
- (Optional) Liver, Kidney and Lipid Profiles: These tests check organ and cardiovascular health, which are particularly useful if you have a family history of high cholesterol or hypertension.
2. Genetic & Inherited Condition Tests
Genetic testing helps identify hereditary conditions that may be passed to your children. One of the most important is the Thalassaemia Screen: If both partners carry the trait, there’s a chance your child may inherit thalassaemia major. This serious blood disorder requires lifelong treatment.
Knowing your status early means you can discuss options such as genetic counselling, pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT), or other family-planning options before you conceive.
3. Fertility & Reproductive Health
Premarital health screenings often include tests that reveal how well your reproductive system is functioning.
For women, we check:
- Thyroid Function (T3, T4, TSH): Your thyroid regulates hormones that influence metabolism and ovulation. When levels are off, they can disrupt cycles or make conception harder.
- Pelvic Ultrasound: A quick, non-invasive scan that lets your doctor assess your uterus and ovaries, checking for cysts, fibroids, or other changes that might affect fertility.
- Autoimmune Screen (ANA, anti-dsDNA, Rheumatoid Factor): Identifies autoimmune activity that could interfere with pregnancy or increase miscarriage risk.
For men, an optional semen analysis evaluates sperm count, motility, and shape to ensure healthy fertility.
4. Immunity and Infectious Disease Screening
This part of your premarital health screening checks your immune protection and ensures both partners are free from infections that could impact pregnancy.
- Hepatitis B Immunity Screen: Tells you if you’re protected or need vaccination.
- Rubella and Chickenpox Immunity Screens: Verify if you’re immune to these viruses, which can cause complications if caught during pregnancy. Non-immune women are usually advised to vaccinate before conception.
- STD Profile (VD, HIV Screen): Tests for sexually transmitted infections that may not cause symptoms but can affect fertility or be passed to a partner or baby.
- (Optional) Chlamydia Screening and Pap Smear: Detect bacterial infections or cervical cell changes that are best treated early.
These tests help you take proactive steps — whether it’s getting vaccinated, starting treatment, or making lifestyle changes — to protect your own health and your future family.
STI Screening: The Conversation Every Couple Should Have
Many STIs don’t cause symptoms, but left untreated, they can affect fertility, pregnancy, or long-term health. At W Gynae, STI testing is a part of our premarital health screening package.
What STIs Are Commonly Tested For
At W Gynae, we typically screen for:
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Weakens the immune system and increases vulnerability to other infections. With early detection and treatment, people with HIV can prevent transmission.
- Syphilis (VD Test): A bacterial infection that can cause serious complications in pregnancy if untreated.
- Hepatitis B and C: Viral infections that affect the liver and can be transmitted through sexual contact or from mother to child during childbirth.
- Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea (Optional): Common bacterial infections that are often silent but can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, or chronic pelvic pain if not treated.
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (Optional): Linked to cervical changes and certain cancers. Screening is especially recommended for women who have not been vaccinated.
Why Early Detection Protects Both You and Your Future Family
STIs are treatable, but timing matters. Detecting an infection before symptoms appear can prevent complications such as blocked fallopian tubes, pregnancy loss, or transmission during delivery.
If you’re planning to conceive, identifying infections like chlamydia, gonorrhoea, or syphilis early allows for treatment before they affect your fertility.
Screening for hepatitis B also helps protect your partner and baby. Vaccination can be given before exposure, and additional steps can be taken during pregnancy to prevent transmission.
Ultimately, early testing safeguards not just your health, but your partner’s trust and your shared plans for a family.
Contact us to learn more about W Gynae’s premarital health screening package.
When to Get Screened and How Often to Re-Test
We recommend doing your STI screening around nine months before the wedding, alongside the rest of your premarital health tests. This allows time for treatment, follow-up testing, or vaccinations such as hepatitis B or HPV, if needed.
If either partner has had new sexual partners in the past, previously tested positive for an STI, or experiences new symptoms, re-testing is important — ideally before trying to conceive.
As part of routine preventive care, sexually active individuals should also consider STI testing once a year, or sooner if risk factors change.
What to Expect
An STI screening is straightforward and discreet. It typically involves:
- A blood test for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis.
- A urine test or swab for bacterial infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
- A private consultation with your doctor to review your sexual health history and discuss preventive steps such as vaccination or follow-up care.
Results are usually available within a few working days.
What Happens If Something Shows Up
If your screening results indicate an infection, don’t panic. Most STIs are manageable with early care. At W Gynae, we’ll discuss your results in detail and, if needed, start treatment promptly to prevent complications or transmission.
How Much Is a Premarital Health Screening?
At W Gynae Women’s Clinic, our Premarital Health Screening starts from $528 per couple, and $428 for individual ladies.
Schedule a Health Screening With Your Future Spouse
If you’re planning to get married or start a family, we’d love to support you in taking this next step together.
Book your Premarital Health Screening at W Gynae for discreet, comprehensive testing and personalised care.