AAFP Releases Position Paper on Preconception care.

CME This clinical content conforms to AAFP criteria for continuing medical education (CME). See CME Quiz Questions on page 438. Preconception care is defined as personalized care for men and women that is focused on reducing maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, increasing chances of conception, and preventing unintended pregnancies. Family physicians have the opportunity to discuss risk factors that negatively impact maternal and infant health such as being overweight, smoking, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. There are multiple barriers to providing comprehensive preconception care. Usually, preconception is focused on patients planning a pregnancy. Because one-half of U.S. pregnancies are reported as unintended, the timing of addressing preconception is a challenge. Most women recognize the need for counseling before conception to achieve optimal health outcomes, but the majority reported that they did not receive any counseling, and most physicians did not provide or recommend counseling to their patients of reproductive age. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has released a position paper providing evidence-based recommendations that address reproductive health care.