Preconception prevention of hereditary diseases and defects

Planned parenthood - it is not only about planning the number and time of birth of offspring, but also about creating conditions for their healthy development. The following principles apply here.

Protection against mutagens

• Until the implementation of the reproductive plan;
• do not postpone reproduction for too long, 'with age the risk of mutations increases:
  • in women, the risk of impairment of the fetus by chromosomal aberrations;
  • in men by point mutations'.

Protection against teratogens

• During pregnancy;
• organogenesis begins in the 5th week after the last menses, i.e. in the 3rd week after fertilization; histogenesis continues until the end of pregnancy.
• teratogenic effects include:
  1. infection (Toxoplasma, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpesvirus);
  2. chemical substances - alcohol, some medicines, drugs, etc.;
  3. ionizing radiation - up to therapeutic doses are highly teratogenic.

Favorable health condition of the mother

• The mother's organism forms the environment for the development of the fetus throughout the pregnancy.
• Maternal illnesses and their treatment can seriously endanger the development of the fetus.

Gynecological examination and correction of all detected deviations

• Gynecological preconception care reduces the risk of spontaneous abortions, polygenically inherited defects and congenital defects caused by de novo chromosomal mutations.

Vitamin Screen

• Administration of folic acid (5–10 mg/day) and vitamin C (500 mg/day) in the preconception period has a proven beneficial effect on fetal development.
• Vitamin C = antioxidant (prevention of mutations and teratogenesis); folic acid = coenzyme in the DNA repair enzyme system.

Links

Related Articles

• Postnatal prevention of hereditary diseases
• Prenatal diagnosis
• Congenital developmental defects
• Teratogens

External links

• Think of me in time - VVV primary prevention program

Sourc

• ŠTEFÁNEK, Jiří. Medicine, diseases, 1. LF UK [online]. [cit. 11. 2. 2010]. <http://www.stefajir.cz>.