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What is Reproductive Health Care?
Reproductive health is a state of physical, mental and social
well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system
at all stages of life, according to the World
Health Organization (WHO). Educating yourself about reproductive health care is
a first step toward good health.
We encourage you to choose a healthy lifestyle - for your good
health!
Reproductive Health Matters – Throughout
Your Lifetime
Factors
Contributing to Reproductive Health Care
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Before Pregnancy |
During Pregnancy |
During Childbearing Years |
Good nutrition is important
for sustained health |
X |
X |
X |
Smoking and substance abuse
can lead to irreversible damage (to you and to your child) |
X |
X |
X |
Exercise can help your body
withstand many different rigorous demands (including labor) |
X |
X |
X |
Folic Acid is an important addition
to your nutrition |
X |
X |
X |
Untreated depression can lead
to decreased overall health |
X |
X |
X |
Dental care is important to
your overall physical health |
X |
X |
X |
Eating less (without your doctor's
supervision) in order to control your weight may put your
health (and your baby's health) at risk |
X |
X |
X |
The department encourages you to
achieve your desired number of children safely and healthily,
when and if you decide to have them. Choosing a healthy lifestyle,
avoiding illness and disease, and receiving appropriate health
care when needed can help achieve good health for you and your
children.
Most of the department's medical programs cover comprehensive
reproductive health services and voluntary family planning services.
If you are no longer eligible for one of the department's
comprehensive medical programs, you may be eligible for Illinois
Healthy Women, a special family planning program.
A number of birth control methods are available. The choice of
which form of birth control to use depends on such factors as the
woman's health, frequency of sexual activity and desire to have
a baby in the future. You can discuss what birth control methods
are best for you with your health care provider. The following
links can provide you with more information about the methods of
birth control available to you, failure rates and potential risks.
Food
and Drug Administration Birth Control Guide (html) (pdf)
Keeping Healthy:
Before pregnancy – see your doctor
about planning for your healthy pregnancy, birth and baby. Take
vitamins containing folic acid prior to becoming pregnant.
During pregnancy – get early
and ongoing prenatal care.
After pregnancy – keep healthy.
Wait for at least a year before becoming pregnant again. Illinois
Healthy Women is a program that provides family planning and
other related women's health care services to eligible
women who would otherwise lose their medical coverage. The Illinois
Healthy Women program allows women access to family planning services
that enable women to choose the number and spacing of their pregnancies
and to plan a healthy birth. For information about the Illinois
Healthy Women Program visit the Illinois
Healthy Women Web site.
Women not eligible for the Illinois Healthy
Women program may
be eligible to receive low cost family planning and reproductive
health services through another program. The Department of Human Services Help Line at 1-800-843-6154 and TTY at 1-800-447-6404
can assist in obtaining information about family planning resources,
and low cost providers. The Illinois
Department of Human Services Family Planning Program has more
information available on their Web site.
Other Links:
United
States Department of Health and Human Services, Maternal and Child
Health Bureau-- A Healthy Start: Begins Before Baby's Born
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, Women's Reproductive Health
The National Women's
Health Information Center, Information about Folic Acid
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, You can Quit, Smoking
Consumer Guide
Information about Sexually Transmitted Diseases
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