Reproductive health
Jill Blitz, PT
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Courtney Wells, PhD
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Mariah Leach, MS
Mamas Facing Forward
Cheryl Crow, OT
Arthritis Life
Addressing reproductive health needs is an emergent priority for the rheumatology community. New research provides guidelines for how to safely treat and counsel rheumatology patients about reproductive health. Still, women with rheumatic disease lack needed health information to make evidence-informed decisions about family planning. This panel session will outline the unique needs during the stages of pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and early motherhood of reproductive-aged women diagnosed with rheumatic disease. Faculty will draw from new qualitative research, occupational therapy and social work expertise, and their own personal experiences as rheumatology patients with children. They will provide practical examples and facilitate discussion around how to empower reproductive-aged women to maintain mental and physical health while overcoming the functional limitations that impede upon their activities and roles.
