Science and Babies

By all indicators, the reproductive health of Americans has been deteriorating since 1980. Our nation is troubled by rates of teen pregnancies and newborn deaths that are worse than almost all others in the Western world.

Science and Babies is a straightforward presentation of the major reproductive issues we face that suggests answers for the public.

The book discusses how the clash of opinions on sex and family planning prevents us from making a national commitment to reproductive health; why people in the United States have fewer contraceptive choices than those in many other countries; what we need to do to improve social and medical services for teens and people living in poverty; how couples should "shop" for a fertility service and make consumer-wise decisions; and what we can expect in the future—featuring interesting accounts of potential scientific advances.

• Front Matter
• Contents
• 1. Reproductive Health Issues
• 2. Infertility
• 3. Contraception: Having a Healthy Baby at the Right Time
• 4. The Dilemma of Teenage Parenthood
• 5. Prenatal Care: Having Healthy Babies
• 6. Progress in Research
• 7. New Technologies: The Ethical and Social Issues
• 8. Areas for Policy Develoment
• Acknowledgements
• Index