Do couples with the same blood group face problems in conceiving a child? Why do doctors insist on a blood test before marriage?

The problem of Rh incompatibility occurs when the mother's blood group is Rh-negative and the father's blood group is Rh-positive. If the baby is Rh positive, then the mother's body may consider the baby's blood as foreign.

Often, people have this misconception that if the couple has the same blood group, they will face difficulty in conceiving a child. In reality, this is not the case. Couples with the same blood group usually do not have any problem conceiving a baby.

Do couples with the same blood group face problems in conceiving a child?

 

 

• No, having the same blood group does not cause any problem in conceiving a baby. According to experts, there are no blood group antigens on the sperm and egg. Therefore, it has no direct effect on fertilization and development of the fetus.
• The main problem is related to the Rh factor of the blood group and not the main type of blood group (A, B, AB, O).

When does the problem of Rh incompatibility arise?

This problem occurs when the mother's blood group is Rh-negative and the father's blood group is Rh-positive. In this situation, if the baby is Rh-positive, the mother's body may recognize the baby's blood as "foreign" and start producing antibodies.

• Effect: This is usually not a major problem in the first pregnancy, but in future pregnancies these antibodies can destroy the baby's red blood cells, leading to a serious condition called Rh incompatibility.
• Effect on the baby: This can cause anemia, jaundice or in some cases, brain-related problems in the baby.
• Treatment: Nowadays, this problem can be easily managed through anti-D immunoglobulin injection, which is given to Rh-negative pregnant women.

Why do doctors insist on a blood test before marriage?

Doctors insist on a blood test before marriage so that potential health problems can be detected and prevented, or managed. The main reason for this is much more than blood group incompatibility.

A blood test before marriage reveals many important things.

• Rh factor incompatibility: As mentioned above, this is one of the most important factors. It is important to know this beforehand to prevent the effects on the baby's health if the mother is Rh-negative and the father is Rh-positive.
• Thalassemia: This is a serious blood disorder. If both parents are carriers of thalassemia, then there is a 25% chance of their baby having thalassemia major, which can be life-threatening for the baby. It can be detected by this test.
• Sickle cell anemia: This is also a genetic blood disorder, which is also tested before marriage.
• Sexually transmitted infections: Infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, gonorrhoea, etc. are tested for so that they can be treated and the infection can be prevented from spreading to the partner or baby.
• General health checkup: General tests of haemoglobin level (anemia), blood sugar, kidney and liver function etc. are also done to identify any underlying health problem.

The purpose of a blood test before marriage is to protect the health of future children and ensure a happy and healthy married life for the couple. It helps identify any potential risk beforehand and helps to manage it effectively.