Preconception Checkup: What to Test Before You Start Trying
Your preconception checkup covers blood pressure, thyroid, vaccines, and carrier screening. What to get tested before trying to conceive.
A preconception checkup is its own thing — different from a regular annual visit, and worth doing before you need it. Blood pressure, blood sugar, thyroid function, vaccines, and genetic carrier screening are the foundations that quietly affect whether a pregnancy starts and stays. Most people only find out about these things when something isn't working.
What tests should I get before trying to get pregnant?
Blood pressure, blood sugar, and thyroid function are the baseline numbers that matter most. All three can affect ovulation and implantation — and none of them produce obvious symptoms when they're off. Getting them checked before you start trying means you're not dealing with a surprise mid-journey. Insulin resistance is worth special attention: it can disrupt ovulation even without a diabetes diagnosis, and it's one of the most common and most treatable fertility factors.
What is a preconception checkup and do I really need one?
Your OB may not have covered any of this at your last annual visit — preconception care is its own category of medicine. A preconception visit is specifically designed to evaluate your starting point and catch anything that could complicate a pregnancy before it begins. Think of it as building the foundation rather than reacting to problems later.
Which vaccines matter before pregnancy?
Once you're pregnant, live vaccines are off the table. Rubella and varicella immunity should be confirmed before you start trying — not after. A simple blood test checks immunity for both. If you're not immune, you can be vaccinated now and wait the recommended interval before trying.
What blood tests does a preconception workup include?
A complete preconception workup typically includes a metabolic panel (blood sugar, kidney and liver function), thyroid function (TSH), a complete blood count, and STI screening. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can silently damage the fallopian tubes — often with zero symptoms — and one straightforward test rules them out. STI screening applies to both partners: untreated infections affect sperm health and can be passed back and forth without either person knowing.
Should I share my family health history before trying to conceive?
This is the right time to think through family health history, because it directly informs carrier screening. Carrier screening identifies whether you carry genes for conditions like cystic fibrosis or spinal muscular atrophy — even if you're completely healthy. It's recommended for everyone now, regardless of family history or ethnicity. Knowing your carrier status before pregnancy allows you to understand your options before they become urgent decisions.