Thirty years ago family planning was synonymous with using contraception and the prevention of pregnancy. Today, that definition has changed immensely to recognize the importance of helping couples achieve pregnancy. In general, infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant (conceive) after one year of unprotected sex (6 months for women 35 or older), and it has important public health implications. Given that many treatments result in twin and higher order births, both mothers and infants are at increased risk for adverse health outcomes. Additionally, many known causes of infertility, such as sexually transmitted diseases, environmental exposures, obesity, and smoking, are well-known public health threats. While there is increasing recognition of how these factors affect fertility, there are still many opportunities to better understand and address population level issues that contribute to infertility in men and women.
This fascinating session of Grand Rounds delves into strategies associated with the detection, prevention, and management of infertility. This session will also address clinical approaches to improving the safety and efficacy of infertility treatments in an effort to promote healthy pregnancy outcomes.
Visit here for more information on the CDC Public Health Grand Rounds.
