Screening is the systematic testing of asymptomatic individuals for the disease so that early and more effective treatment may be given. In this context the common say of “prevention is better than cure” cannot be better applied to any situation more than ante-natal care. As a matter of fact this ante natal care should start even before pregnancy. Every woman, and for that matter every man, should check that their health is at its best before starting a family. These ideas should therefore be more widely spread by all agencies responsible for health promotion and education.

Pre marriage, pre conception amd intermarriage counseling should be thought and everybody should go for such counseling so as they can start their family life at a healthier basis. This is particularly applicable to close relative marriages like first degree cousins or families who have particularly known abnormalities. It is of interest to note that there are 6,000 different inherited abnormalities, of which 370 are chromosomally linked. At the time of counseling various illnesses can be discussed.

At this visit the project of child bearing is discussed, after taking medical and family history, including risk profiles. Examination and tests are then performed. modified according to whether the situation is pre-marriage or pre-conception in an already consumated marriage.