Of the 16,374 couples that registered for marriage during the National Day holiday week in Guangdong, only 114 - or 0.7 per cent - voluntarily underwent premarital health examinations, according to the civil affairs department.

Examinations to screen for sexually transmitted, hereditary and reproductive system diseases ceased to be mandatory after the new marriage registration law went into effect on October 1.

Experts worry that the ratio of congenital defects among babies, currently 4 to 6 per cent in Guangzhou, will go up in three years, reports Information Times.

The basic premarital physical costs a mere 40 yuan (US$4.80) and the results are given within a day, said a doctor at the Guangzhou Maternity and Child Care Centre.

Many devastating health problems can be avoided if diseases are discovered and treated early, before they are passed on to offspring, she said.

When asked why they did not undergo the physical exam, new couples gave such answers as "we are both very healthy", "we are too busy", and "it's just an excuse for hospitals to make money".

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