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Women's Reproductive Health: Home

Many women.

CDC's women's reproductive health activities focus primarily on research concerned with contraception safety and efficacy, fertility, infertility, and HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Biomedical, behavioral and surveillance research seek answers to prevent disease transmission and improve women's health. CDC's Division of Reproductive Health works with special populations including incarcerated women and members of managed care organizations. Working with these distinct populations allows CDC to examine reproductive health disparities among specific populations and to examine women's reproductive health care and outcomes.

Protecting Your Reproductive System

Did you know that your reproductive system is one of the most fragile systems of your body? It can easily get infected or injured. If it does, you might have long-term health problems. Taking simple steps to prevent getting or spreading HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) will help protect you and your loved ones. An STD is an infection or disease that you get by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who already has an STD.

Some STDs can be “silent,” which means you do not show any signs of infection, illness, or disease. Others can have mild to severe symptoms. Get regular checkups for STDs, even if you do not have any symptoms.

Protecting your reproductive system also means having control over if and when you become pregnant. But choosing which type of birth control to use is not easy. Learn what types of birth control  are available. Talk with your doctor or nurse to help you choose among the options.

Selected Resources

Womenshealth.gov: A—Z Health Topics

Women's Health and Mortality Chartbook

Interstitial Cystitis (IC)
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic bladder condition resulting in recurring discomfort or pain in the bladder or surrounding pelvic region.

Gynecologic Cancer
To raise awareness about the five major gynecologic cancers (cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar), CDC provides information and educational materials for women and health care providers.

Adult Immunization Schedule

Preconception Care
Preconception care is recognized as a critical component of health care for women of reproductive age.

Healthy Living
Adopting healthy behaviors such as eating nutritious foods, being physically active, and avoiding tobacco can prevent or control the devastating effects of many diseases.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

HHIV/AIDS Prevention

DES Update
Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is a drug once prescribed during pregnancy to prevent miscarriages or premature deliveries.

CDC's Office of Women's Health

CDC's Office of Minority Health

CDC's Office of Genomics
Provides information about human genomic discoveries and how they can be used to improve health and prevent disease. It also provides links to CDC wide activities in public health genomics across the lifespan.

National Diabetes Education Program (NIH)

Women's Health Research: Progress, Pitfalls, and Promise* (Institute of Medicine)
This progress report on the state of women's health research describes the diseases and conditions where the greatest gains have been made and where advances have been minimal or lacking. It also recommends additional steps that researchers, medical journals, and others could take to achieve further gains.

Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
 

Page last reviewed: 5/25/2012
Page last modified: 5/25/2012
Content source: Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

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“ Assisted Reproductive Technology
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“ Division of Reproductive Health

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