Healthier women, healthier reproductive outcomes: recommendations for the routine care of all women of reproductive age
Received 12 June 2008; accepted 29 August 2008.
By addressing the reproductive intentions and contraceptive practices and needs of every patient, providers may be able to decrease women's chances of experiencing unintended pregnancies and support women in achieving planned and well-timed pregnancies. By addressing the health promotion needs of every patient and examining and addressing her health profile for reproductive risks, irrespective of her desires for pregnancy, it is likely that more women will enter pregnancy with high levels of preconception wellness and that healthier women and healthier pregnancies and infants will result. The importance of the integration of reproductive planning and health promotion into women's routine healthcare is further emphasized when the potentially far-reaching effects of reproductive outcomes (such as unintended pregnancies, adverse pregnancy outcomes, pregnancy complications, and sexually transmitted infections) on women's health, well-being, and life circumstances are considered.
aDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC
bDepartment of Family and Preventive Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
cDepartment of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
dDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Reprints: Merry-K. Moos BSN, FNP, MPH, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Univeristy of North Carolina, 213 MacNider CB#7516, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7516
Conflict of Interest: Merry-K. Moos, BSN, FNP, MPH; Anne L. Dunlop, MD, MPH; Brian W. Jack, MD; Lauren Nelson, MD, PhD; Richard Long, MD; Kim Boggess, MD; and Paula M. Gardiner, MD, MPH have no conflict of interest including grants, honoraria, advisory board memberships, or share holdings. Merry-K. Moos, BSN, FNP, MPH sits on the CDC Select Panel on Preconceptional Health which is a voluntary service. Dean V. Coonrod, MD, MPH, is a Grant Recipient from the March of Dimes Arizona Chapter to develop an internatal Care Clinic and has funding from CMS (#1HOCMS030207 101) working on compliance with the 6 week postpartum visit as a strategy to improve preconception care.
ABSTRACT