Medically reviewed by Dr. Julian Ng, MBBS (University of Sydney), MSc Microbiology (NUS), Cert. Men's Health (SMHS). Last reviewed: 1 May 2026.
Why prenuptial screening matters
Marriage is one of the few life decisions that fundamentally changes both your health trajectory and your future family's. Prenuptial screening is not about gatekeeping or judgement - it is about entering marriage with shared, informed understanding of each partner's health, planning around any conditions identified, and identifying things that can be addressed before they become problems.
Prenuptial screening is voluntary in Singapore. Neither the Registry of Marriages nor the Registry of Muslim Marriages requires a medical examination or an HIV test as a condition of marriage 4. Couples who screen do so because they want the information, not because a rule obliges them to.
What does prenuptial screening cover?
A standard prenuptial screen at Hisential covers four domains:
Infectious diseases
- HIV
- Hepatitis B (including immunity status - vaccination is offered if non-immune)
- Hepatitis C
- Syphilis (VDRL/TPHA)
- Other STIs as indicated
General health markers
- Full blood count (including thalassemia screening)
- Blood group and Rh factor
- Fasting blood glucose
- Lipid profile
- Liver and kidney function (in selected cases)
- Urinalysis
- Blood pressure
- Body Mass Index
Reproductive and fertility considerations
- Rubella immunity (for the female partner)
- Discussion of family planning, contraception, fertility timeline
- Assessment of any concerns either partner has about fertility
- Hormonal markers where indicated
Genetic and inherited considerations where relevant
- Thalassemia carrier status (both partners)
- Other genetic carrier testing where there is family history (specific haemoglobinopathies, certain inherited conditions)
- Genetic counselling referral if both partners carry a significant condition
What is thalassemia screening and why is it important?
Thalassaemia is a group of inherited blood disorders caused by abnormal or reduced production of haemoglobin. Carrier status is comparatively common across Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, South Asia, Africa & the Middle East. Singapore's National Thalassemia Registry, reviewing three decades of carrier screening, reported pick-up rates of about 0.93% for the beta thalassaemia trait and about 0.64% for the haemoglobin E trait among the spouses screened, with haemoglobin E concentrated in the Malay community 1.
Carrier individuals typically have no symptoms or only mild ones; the carrier state itself is not a major health issue.
The concern arises when both partners are carriers. Thalassaemia follows an autosomal recessive pattern, so in this situation each pregnancy has a 25% chance of producing a child with thalassaemia major, a serious lifelong condition requiring regular blood transfusions and ongoing care 2.
Prenuptial screening identifies carrier status. If both partners are carriers, genetic counselling helps you understand the implications and plan accordingly. There is no "right" answer - couples make different choices - but having the information matters.
Should we attend together?
Both partners are encouraged to attend together, though individual attendance is also fine. Joint attendance has advantages:
- Shared discussion of family planning, lifestyle, and health goals
- Joint walk-through of any compatibility considerations (blood group, thalassemia)
- Easier coordination of any follow-up
- Builds shared health-literacy as a couple
Privacy is preserved within joint visits - your individual results are confidential to you, and you decide what to share with your partner. Hisential supports both joint and individual attendance.
What does the visit involve?
- Pre-visit communication. Brief intake to understand what you are looking for, any specific concerns, and to schedule the appointment(s).
- Consultation at our Orchard Road clinic, individually or together depending on preference.
- Detailed history. Personal medical history, family history, current medications, lifestyle, sexual health where appropriate, family planning intentions.
- Examination. Standard medical examination, blood pressure, BMI.
- Sample collection on-site for the agreed test panel.
- Results in 2 working days for most tests.
- Results consultation - together or individually as you prefer. Every result explained in context with action items where relevant.
Will the results be confidential?
Yes. Each individual's medical records are confidential to that individual. Hisential will not share one partner's results with the other without explicit consent.
We strongly encourage open discussion of significant findings between partners - relationships built on trust and information are stronger than those built on omission - but the choice to share is yours. Counselling support is available where needed.
A small number of conditions, including HIV, are notifiable to the Ministry of Health under the Infectious Diseases Act 1976 3. Where a result falls into that category, your doctor explains what notification means before testing and again if it applies.
Will the screening identify problems?
It might. Common findings include:
- Vaccination gaps (hepatitis B, rubella) - easily addressed
- Iron deficiency or other nutritional findings - manageable
- Pre-diabetes or borderline cardiovascular markers - early intervention possible
- Thalassemia carrier status - relevant for family planning
- Previously undiagnosed STI - treatable
- Cardiac Care & Heart Screening in Singapore or other early disease - early management is dramatically easier than late management
The vast majority of findings are either reassuring or readily addressable. Where significant findings emerge, Hisential supports you through next steps with appropriate care, referral, and counselling.
If you need documentation of your results
Some couples want a written record of their screening, whether for their own files, for a religious counsellor, or for an overseas process. Hisential issues a standard laboratory report and a doctor's letter summarising the tests performed and the results. There is no Singapore marriage certificate of health to obtain, because no such document is required here.
How much does prenuptial screening cost in Singapore?
- Consultation: S$50 after GST
- Test panel: Cost varies by panel selected; discussed transparently before testing
- Couple packages: May be available; ask during enquiry
- Genetic counselling referral where indicated: quoted separately
Patient pathway and follow-up
A complete clinical episode at Hisential is structured around four clearly-defined stages, so patients understand what to expect at each visit and how decisions are made.
Stage 1 - Pre-consultation triage
Before your first appointment for prenuptial screening, our care coordinators take a brief history by WhatsApp or phone to determine whether teleconsultation, an in-clinic visit, or a same-day workup is most appropriate. This avoids unnecessary travel for issues that can be triaged remotely, and ensures patients with urgent presentations are prioritised. Where laboratory tests, imaging, or fasting are likely to be needed, we explain the requirements in advance so the first visit is productive rather than purely exploratory.
Stage 2 - In-clinic assessment
The first consultation includes a structured medical history, focused examination, and - where clinically indicated - point-of-care or laboratory investigations. Doctors document findings in our digital records system and walk patients through the rationale for each test. Costs are confirmed before any chargeable investigation is performed; nothing is added without consent.
Stage 3 - Diagnosis, plan, and shared decision-making
Once results are available, the doctor reviews them with the patient in plain language, including normal ranges, areas of concern, and the level of evidence behind any proposed intervention. For prenuptial screening, treatment options are framed in terms of expected benefit, realistic timelines, side-effect profile, and cost. Patients are encouraged to ask questions and may request a second appointment to consider their options before starting treatment - there is no pressure to decide on the day.
Stage 4 - Follow-up and continuity
Follow-up intervals are agreed at the end of the first visit and depend on the condition: chronic management is typically reviewed every 3-6 months, while acute episodes may be reviewed within 1-4 weeks. Teleconsultation (from S$50 after GST) is offered for routine follow-ups where physical examination is not required. Records are retained securely and remain accessible to the patient on request, including for onward referral or coordination with another doctor.
What we will not do
Hisential does not sell unproven therapies, does not recommend tests without a clinical indication, and does not extend treatment courses beyond what the evidence supports. If a condition falls outside our scope - for example, requiring inpatient care, surgical sub-specialty input, or oncology services - we say so and refer appropriately. Honest scope is part of the standard.
Related services
- STD Testing in Singapore
- HIV Testing in Singapore
- Comprehensive Health Screening in Singapore
- Nutritional Screening in Singapore
Book a prenuptial screening
Hisential Clinic Orchard - 333A Orchard Road, #04-13 Mandarin Gallery, Singapore 238897 (across from 313@Somerset, Somerset MRT). Open weekdays 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Sat-Sun 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
The information on this page is for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. MOH HCSA Licence L/24M2064/MDS/001/242.