Women’s Reproductive Health Women’s Reproductive Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDC’s women’s reproductive health activities focus primarily on research concerned with contraception safety and efficacy, fertility, infertility, and HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Biomedical, behavioral and surveillance research seek answers to prevent disease transmission and improve women’s health. CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health works with special populations including incarcerated women and members of managed care organizations. Working with these distinct populations allows CDC to examine reproductive health disparities among specific populations and to examine women’s reproductive health care and outcomes.

Protecting Your Reproductive System
Did you know that your reproductive system is one of the most fragile systems of your body? It can easily get infected or injured. If it does, you might have long-term health problems. Taking simple steps to prevent getting or spreading HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) will help protect you and your loved ones. An STD is an infection or disease that you get by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who already has an STD.

Some STDs can be “silent,” which means you do not show any signs of infection, illness, or disease. Others can have mild to severe symptoms. Get regular checkups for STDs, even if you do not have any symptoms.

Protecting your reproductive system also means having control over if and when you become pregnant. But choosing which type of birth control to use is not easy. Learn what types of birth control are available. Talk with your doctor or nurse to help you choose among the options.