Saturday, February 08, 2025 | Sha'ban 8, 1446 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Mandatory premarital examination: Why it is important in Oman

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The premarital examinations launched by the Ministry of Health will be medical advice services for those about to get married, based on the results of laboratory tests that reveal the possibility of infectious diseases or genetic diseases that may be transmitted to children.


Premarital examination will be mandatory in the Sultanate of Oman starting in 2026 to prevent many genetic diseases and to create a society that enjoys sustainable care and health.


Thalassemia has been reported in two percent of children under five years while sickle cell anemia is found in six percent of the children under the same age group.


Diseases covered by the examination are sickle cell and thalassemia.


What is an unsafe marriage?


Both parties have the disease or both parties are carriers of the disease.


One party is infected and the other is a carrier of the disease.


Impact on children with one of these diseases


Chronic severe physical pain


The constant need for blood transfusions


Complications that may lead to premature death


Psychological pressure on family members


According to the Ministry of Health, commitment to medical examination before marriage is considered one of the main pillars for building a happy, stable family.


It is a laboratory test for those about to get married to find out whether one of them is infected or a carrier of a hereditary blood disease that may be transmitted to the children.


The premarital medical examination is important due to the spread of hereditary blood diseases in our society, which may not be visible and are not known.


Premarital medical examination is not limited to those who have relatives with the disease, but to everyone who is thinking of getting married, whether they are relatives or not, because not showing a hereditary disease.


These diseases are transmitted through genetic material (genes) which exist in pairs, one of which is inherited from the father and the other from the mother. If a person inherits the gene carrying the disease from both parents, he will be a single patient from one of the parents and will not show symptoms. Therefore, he or she will not be able to know whether he is a carrier of the disease or not.


The disease may be inherited between different generations of the same family without their knowledge because the symptoms do not appear.


If I don't get tested, the person who carries the disease may marry someone who also carries the disease, which leads to the possibility of the children getting the disease.


In the event of infection, the family will suffer a lot because of the child's suffering and may feel guilty and frustrated, which affects family life and stability.


When is the right time for me to get tested: The earlier the better, especially before getting engaged to a partner or just thinking about wanting to get married and get engaged


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