Reproductive Health

Overview

This overview focuses on how an Integrative Health approach can be useful to support people before, during and after the birth of a child.  As with all aspects of our health, reproductive health issues do not exist in isolation; focusing on fertility, prenatal care, post-pregnancy concerns, and other such issues must occur in conjunction with a focus on each person as a whole.  What really matters to them, and what gives them meaning, aspiration, or purpose?  Integrative Health emphasizes mindful awareness and general self-care along with conventional and integrative approaches to health and well-being.  The Circle of Health highlights eight areas of self-care: Surroundings; Personal Development; Nutrition; Recharge; Family, Friends, and Co-workers; Spirit and Soul; Mind and Emotions; and Physical Activity.  The patient narratives included in “Reproductive Health: An Integrative Approach”, focused on a couple wanting to start a family, provides an example of how Integrative Health might inform this important area.  Research has also shown success with certain complementary approaches, ranging from using mind-body tools or acupuncture to taking dietary supplements or exploring body-based therapies.