Preconception care is a set of interventions that identify and modify biomedical, behavioral, and social risks to a woman’s health and future pregnancies.  It includes both prevention and management, emphasizing health issues that require action before conception or very early in pregnancy for maximal impact.  The target population for preconception care is women of reproductive age, although men are also targeted by several components of preconception care.  The overarching goal of preconception care is to provide: 1) screening for risks, 2) health promotion and education, and 3) interventions to address identified risks. [Preconception Health and Care, 2006, CDC At A Glance PDF]

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Date: April 12, 2006
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities