Summary:
SUMMARY
Family programming consists of the appropriate consult of the community members, provided by specialist health professionals, thus by giving them the chance to make solid choices for the creation of their family.
Consulting before the scheduled conception consists of the documentation of individual, sexual, obstetric and genetic history, the design of the ancestry chart of both partners and their clinical examination. Risk factors are identified, necessary examinations are planned, and instructions that allow the conception planning and the reduce of the unwanted pregnancy are given.
Prenatal care does not only consist of diagnosis and treatment, but also of the creation of a healthy environment for the fetus during the period of conception and development, through consulting and instructing the future parents.
Especially useful is the genetic consulting prior to the scheduled conception to couples that suffer chronic diseases. It is necessary for these couples to do a karyotype examination. If the karyotype reveals chromosome anomaly, prenatal check is obligatory in the chance of pregnancy.
Special cases of women suffering from endocrine diseases, (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, thyroid gland diseases), and chronic metabolic diseases (phenylketonuria, epilepsy or psychosis), need timely consulting, in order for the conception to be scheduled and for them to start medicinal or diet program. In certain serious chronic diseases, a special approach is needed for the conception and the treatment of the disease, that may be affected by the pregnancy, so as to minimize the side-effects. In some cases of serious chronic diseases, where long-term medicinal treatment is necessary (i.e. epilepsy), women must be informed about the danger of teratogenesis, caused by the medicine, prior to the scheduled conception, so as to choose medicine less or, if possible, no embryotoxic.
Specific services that will be offered in each case, depend on the individual needs of future parents, and the available services.
Family planning consulting prior to the conception and during pregnancy, is an important indicator the quality of health services and ultimately promotes the health of the community members.
Keywords:
Family programming, STDs, Contraception, Chromosomal abnormalities, Medical conditions, Ιnfection
