No doubt love is a necessity in a marriage. Also, your unborn kids are as important as anything in your marriage, hence, you need to consider them.

Before you make or accept a marriage proposal, make it a compulsory task to see your doctor, in order to seek medical advice as regards your genotype compatibility.

Your failure to consult with your doctor could cost you a lifetime of worry should you bear a child with ‘Sickle Cell Disease’ (SS).

Sickle cell disease is a lifetime ailment that makes the red blood cell break down. According to a source from the University of Ibadan, “with sickle cell disease, an inherited group of disorders, red blood cells contort into a sickle shape. The cells die early, leaving a shortage of healthy red blood cells (sickle cell anaemia) and can block blood flow causing pain (sickle cell crisis).”

Sickle cell disease is a serious health crisis that cannot be cured.

It is caused by the mutation of the father and mother of the carrier. This means the parents of a child are overtly responsible for their child being a sickle cell patient.

How do you know you are medically compatible?

In order to save your unborn child from a lifetime of suffering, it is important to know if you and your partner are medically compatible. Here is how to know your compatibility:

First it is important to explain some terms: AA, AS, and SS. These three genotypes determine your compatibility with your partner.

While AA does not carry the sickle cell gene, AS and SS have the sickle cell trait.

Below is the compatibility status:

AA + AA – Partners in this category are very compatible because their unborn kids will have no sickle cell trait also.

AA + AS – Partners in this category are compatible, though chances are that their kids could have the sickle cell trait.

AS + AS – Fair compatibility, chances of giving birth to carries of the sickle cell trait is high in this situation. Also, you can bear a sickle cell disease carrier.

AS + SS – All your kids are likely to be carriers of the sickle cell trait. This is a bad combination that could put your children at risk of battling sickle cell disease.

SS + SS – Worse compatibility. All unborn kids would be carriers of the gene. Very high chances of sickle cell disease.

According to the Sickle Cell Society, “If your partner does not have sickle cell trait, then any children you have will not have sickle cell disorder, but they could have the trait (50% chance).

If you and your partner both have the trait, there is a 25% chance that any child conceived may have sickle cell disorder and 50% chance they will have the trait.”

Now you have seen that love alone is not the requirement to a successful marriage. Consider your health also, if possible make talking about your genotype a necessity during one of your dates.