Marriage can be described as a legal agreement between two consenting parties for a satisfying  union in physical, psychological, sexual, spiritual and social aspects, intended to last a lifetime.  Many couples today get caught in a web of making extensive preparations for the wedding  ceremony spending their time, energy and money, during their pre-marital courtship so much  that their thoughts on their life together gets scarce attention. To make your married life happy  and productive, you need to discuss more on marriage planning than wedding planning. We  consider the best period to so, is the initial stage of the union, when the couple is strongly bound by affection, mutual respect and care.

It is vital to plan all related aspects as setting-up home, understanding each other when living together, sharing responsibilities, expenses and building a family and bringing up children in the most productive way. This plan will not only get your marriage a head-start but ensure the longevity of a healthy dialogue that will be the foundation of a happy union, between two people who love each other. Pre-marital counselling is designed to get you to think in this direction. It will focus on means to build that strong, healthy relationship on all aspects mentioned from the wedding night itself. It will help the couple identify weak areas of their relationship and thinking, which could snowball into major issues that could drive a wedge in the marriage, as it progresses.

By discussing differences and expectations before marriage, you and your partner can better understand and support each other during your married life. It is a proactive way of facing potential misunderstandings and getting professional help in areas that are not clearly grasped by young couples. Just like spending time and energy in organizing your wedding – flowers, cakes, hotel, menu selection and the dress you need to allocate some time to go and meet a doctor to discuss what your plans are for the future. Building your family is the next big step after marriage. Depending on the circumstances, some couples desire to become pregnant as soon as they get married, while others may prefer to postpone pregnancy for some time. If one wishes for an early pregnancy, one should be aware of the fertile period, importance of regular sexual exposure, being free of stress, option of taking the rubella vaccine to prevent congenital rubella in the new born and how soon to start on folic acid/ iron supplements etc.

If there is a need to postpone the pregnancy, it is best to initiate a family planning method. There are many safe, reliable methods which are also easily reversible, such as Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCP), Implants (Implanon or Jadelle) or condoms. Relying on natural method as Safe period (Standards Day Method) or withdrawal can be less successful, and even so, getting accurate information on them can make the difference. To make your marriage a success, consult a doctor at the Centre for Family Health (CFH) of the Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka at least one month before your wedding. We are open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am till 4.00 pm, and closed during the weekends and Mercantile/ Poya holidays. Fix your appointment by calling us on 011 2 555 455 or booking through e channeling.