Marriage: Proceed With Caution

1. Love: Love should form the basis for any marriage. And individual should choose a partner whom he loves. Love may come suddenly or it may develop gradually. The love that leads to marriage should be able to stand the test of time.
2. Physical Attraction: For a successful marriage both partners should be physically attracted to each other.
3. Personality Patterns: A person should choose a partner whose complement rather than resemble or replicate his. The partner should be able to tolerate each other.
4. Compatibility: Partners should share similar interests, likes and dislikes. They should be compatible in as many aspects of life as possible.
5. Background: Differences in the background of the partners must be considered. The greater the difference in background between two persons, the less chance there is of having a successful marriage.
6. Economic security: The young persons contemplating marriage should ensure that they are economically ready to do so, that is, they will need to start their own home, make provision for adequate feeding, etc. it is at least important for the man to be gainfully employed.
7. Parental Consent: Some culture demands that young people must seek and obtain the approval of their parents before marriage.
8. Health: An individual should consider the health of the partner he intends to marry.
9. Character: One should choose a partner with reputable character.

It is advisable that intending couples undergo a genotype examination in a reputable hospital or medical laboratory prior to marriage. Such an examination will reveal each partner’s genotype. The examination should be followed by genetic counseling, in order to prevent the bearing of sicklers. The following genotypes exist:

• Non Carriers of sickle-cell (“AA”)
• Harmless carriers of sickle cell (“AS”)
• Actual sickle cellers (“SS”)