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Women and Men Urged to Seek 'Preconception Care'
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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 | 3 Until patients and providers begin taking a proactive approach to pregnancy planning, there will likely be critical gaps in care.
Dr. Michael C. Lu, an associate professor of obstetrics/gynecology and public health at the University of California, Los Angeles, cites one survey in which roughly a third of obstetricians said that it's very important to talk to their patients about folic acid supplementation during a routine exam. Fewer than 20 percent said it's very important to talk to their patients about environmental concerns during a routine exam.
But exposure to toxins, including pesticides, lead and cigarette smoke, may affect fertility, lead to miscarriage or cause birth defects, according to the March of Dimes.
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"Personally, I think we need to do better in terms of patient education on nutrition, exercise, stress management, environmental toxicants, and family planning," Lu said. And not just for women. "We need to promote preconception care for men as well."
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has more on preconception care.
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Copyright © 2008 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
Last updated 7/22/2008
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SOURCES: Anne L. Dunlop, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta; Samuel F. Posner, Ph.D., associate director, science, Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Michael C. Lu, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor, obstetrics and gynecology, University of California, Los Angeles; March of Dimes, White Plains, N.Y.
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