Reproductive Health

Reproductive health refers to the diseases, disorders and conditions that affect the functioning of the reproductive systems during reproductive age. A person’s lifestyle, habits, genetics, use of medicines and exposure to chemicals in the environment can all affect reproductive health.

Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant can reduce the chance of poor reproductive outcomes by taking certain actions:

• Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke.
• Avoid drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs.
• Get medical treatment for infections and other illnesses, especially for vaginal infections.
• Get prenatal health care early in pregnancy and follow nutritional and other advice carefully.

Some environmental toxins, such as mercury and lead, can pass from a mother to her unborn child. A woman eating fish high in mercury during pregnancy can harm the unborn baby’s developing nervous system. Exposure to high levels of lead during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, low birth weight, and developmental delays.

Ways to prevent exposure from environmental sources:

• Reduce heavy or prolonged exertion when the air quality index indicates unhealthy levels of particulate matter and other air pollutants.
• Reduce use of wood-burning stoves and fireplaces or other indoor sources of particulate matter.
• Try to spend less time outdoors near areas with high traffic volume.
• Avoid exposure to lead, particularly in older homes that are being renovated. Houses built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint.
• Avoid mercury exposure. Some fish, especially albacore tuna, contain high levels of mercury.
• Avoid using chemicals, especially pesticides and any types of insecticides, herbicides, rodenticides, miticides and fungicides. Stay away from areas recently sprayed with chemicals.  

The Vermont Tracking portal provides reproductive health outcome data about:

• Prematurity
• Low and very low birth weight
• Mortality
• Fertility rate
• Sex ratio at birth