Reproductive Health

What is reproductive health? Reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system’s functions and processes. People who experience reproductive health have the right to be informed about and have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning/fertility regulation of their choice, and have the capability to have children and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so. If and when they do choose to have a family, reproductive health includes access to appropriate healthcare services that will enable a safe pregnancy and childbirth and provide the best chance, such as treatment of infertility when a woman wants but is unable to become pregnant, of having a healthy infant. A woman's ability to reproduce begins when menstruation starts, and ends years later during menopause. While fertility regulation can prevent pregnancy during this time, many contraceptive methods are effective in preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV (which can cause AIDS) and HPV (that may lead to cervical cancer) which can be spread at any age.

Reproductive Health Topics

• Common Reproductive Health Concerns for Women Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Reproductive Health Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  - National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
• Women's Reproductive Health Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  - CDC

Menstruation

• Menstruation and the menstrual cycle Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  - Office on Women's Health (OWH)
• Menstruation Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  - MedlinePlus Health Topic page
• Menstruation and Menstrual Problems: Condition Information Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  - The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Menopause

• Menopause Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  - U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) consumer information
• Menopause Overview Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  - National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
• Menopause Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  - OWH

Related Topics

• About Planning for Pregnancy Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  – CDC
• Contraception
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
• Infertility
• Maternal and Child Health