Abstract
Introduction Unintended pregnancy has been a concerning public health problem for decades. As we begin to understand the complexities of pregnancy intention and how women experience these pregnancies, reproductive life planning offers a paradigm shift. Methods Reproductive life planning is a patient-centered approach that places a patient’s reproductive preferences—whether concrete or ambivalent—at the forefront of her clinical care. Results This process grants women and men the opportunity to consider how reproduction fits within the context of their broader lives. Within a clinical encounter, reproductive life planning allows counseling and care to be tailored to patient preferences. Discussion Although there is great potential for positive public health impacts in unintended pregnancy, contraceptive use and improved preconception health, the true benefit lies within reinforcing reproductive empowerment. Despite recommendations for universal adoption, many questions remain regarding implementation, equity and outcomes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ACOG. (2013). ACOG Committee Opinion Number 554: Reproductive and sexual coercion. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 121(2 Pt 1), 411–415.
ACOG. (2016). ACOG Committee Opinion Number 564: Reproductive life planning to reduce unintended pregnancy. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 127, e66–e69.
Aiken, A. R. (2015). Happiness about unintended pregnancy and its relationship to contraceptive desires among a predominantly Latina cohort. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 47(2), 99–106.
Aiken, A. R., Borrero, S., Callegari, L. S., & Dehlendorf, C. (2016). Rethinking the pregnancy planning paradigm: Unintended conceptions or unrepresentative concepts? Perspectives in Sexual and Reproductive Health, 48(3), 147–151.
Barrett, G., & Wellings, K. (2002). What is a ‘planned’ pregnancy? Empirical data from a British study. Social Science and Medicine, 55(4), 545–557.
Biggs, M. A., Karasek, D., & Foster, D. G. (2012). Unprotected intercourse among women wanting to avoid pregnancy: Attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs. Womens Health Issues, 22(3), e311–e318.
Borrero, S., Nikolajski, C., Steinberg, J. R., et al. (2015). “It just happens”: A qualitative study exploring low-income women’s perspectives on pregnancy intention and planning. Contraception, 91(2), 150–156.
Callegari, L. S., Aiken, A. R., Dehlendorf, C., Cason, P., & Borrero, S. (2016). Addressing potential pitfalls of reproductive life planning with patient-centered counseling. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2016.10.004.
Callegari, L. S., Borrero, S., Reiber, G. E., et al. (2015). Reproductive life planning in primary care: A qualitative study of women veterans’ perceptions. Womens Health Issues, 25(5), 548–554.
Dunlop, A. L., Logue, K. M., Miranda, M. C., & Narayan, D. A. (2010). Integrating reproductive planning with primary health care: An exploration among low-income, minority women and men. Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, 1(2), 37–43.
Finer, L., & Zolna, M. (2016). Declines in unintended pregnancy in the United States, 2008–2011. New England Journal of Medicine, 374(9), 843–852.
Forste, R., & Morgan, J. (1998). How relationships of U.S. men affect contraceptive use and efforts to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Family Planning Perspectives, 30(2), 56–62.
Frost, J. J., & Lindberg, L. D. (2013). Reasons for using contraception: Perspectives of US women seeking care at specialized family planning clinics. Contraception, 87(4), 465–472.
Gavin, L., Moskosky, S., Carter, M., et al. (2014). Providing quality family planning services: Recommendations of CDC and the U.S. Office of Population Affairs. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 63(Rr-04), 1–54.
Gipson, J. D., Koenig, M. A., & Hindin, M. J. (2008). The effects of unintended pregnancy on infant, child, and parental health: A review of the literature. Studies in Family Planning, 39(1), 18–38.
Gubrium, A. C., Mann, E. S., Borrero, S., et al. (2016). Realizing reproductive health equity needs more than long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). American Journal of Public Health, 106(1), 18–19.
Hatcher, R. A. (1980). Contraceptives must fit in reproductive life plan. Contraceptive Technology Update, 1(9), 131–132.
Johnson, K., Posner, S., Miermann, J., et al. (2006). Recommendations to improve pre conception health and health care: United States: A report of the CDC & ATSDR Preconception Care work Group and the Select Panel on Preconception Care. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 55, 1–23.
Kotelchuck, M., & Lu, M. (2017). Father’s role in preconception health. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 21(11), 2025–2039.
Lopez, L. M., Tolley, E. E., Grimes, D. A., Chen, M., & Stockton, L. L. (2013). Theory-based interventions for contraception. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007249.pub5.
Moos, M. K. (2003). Preconceptional wellness as a routine objective for women’s health care: An integrative strategy. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Neonatal Nursing, 32(4), 550–556.
Moos, M. K., Bartholomew, N. E., & Lohr, K. N. (2003). Counseling in the clinical setting to prevent unintended pregnancy: An evidence-based research agenda. Contraception, 67(2), 115–132.
Moos, M. K., Dunlop, A. L., Jack, B. W., et al. (2008). Healthier women, healthier reproductive outcomes: Recommendations for the routine care of all women of reproductive age. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 199(6 Suppl 2), S280–S289.
Nettleman, M. D., Chung, H., Brewer, J., Ayoola, A., & Reed, P. L. (2007). Reasons for unprotected intercourse: Analysis of the PRAMS survey. Contraception, 75(5), 361–366.
Peipert, J. F., Madden, T., Allsworth, J. E., & Secura, G. M. (2012). Preventing unintended pregnancies by providing no-cost contraception. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 120(6), 1291–1297.
Sedgh, G., Singh, S., & Hussain, R. (2014). Intended and unintended pregnancies worldwide in 2012 and recent trends. Studies in Family Planning, 45(3), 301–314.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Morse, J.E., Moos, MK. Reproductive Life Planning: Raising the Questions. Matern Child Health J 22, 439–444 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2516-z
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2516-z