2. Life course approach in women’s health

Women’s reproductive health is a major determinant for pregnancy outcomes and risk of non-communicable diseases in later life. Besides having consequences for a woman’s personal health, it also has important consequences for the health of her offspring. Adverse maternal exposures during pregnancy may adversely affect foetal development, leading to permanent developmental adaptations that predispose offspring to an increased risk of non-communicable diseases in adulthood. In using this life course approach to women’s health, we need to identify and create opportunities to improve women’s health through their lives and the health of future generations, both at the population level and in patient care by using a multidisciplinary approach from early life onwards.