PRECONCEPTION COUNSELING FOR THE PRIMARY-CARE PHYSICIAN

With the growth of managed health care systems and today's emphasis on preventive health care, primary care physicians have the unique capab ility to integrate preconception counseling into the routine evaluatio n of female patients. The ability of preconception activities to impro ve obstetric outcome depends on the recognition of risks and the avail ability of effective interventions that are acceptable to women and th eir families.