Mental health aspects of women's reproductive health : a global review of the literature.

Reproductive health conditions can impose a considerable burden on women's lives. In some instances, mental health problems may develop as a consequence of reproductive health issues. The early literature concerned with the intersection of mental and reproductive health focused on a relatively small number of reproductive health conditions experienced worldwide. This World Health Organization publication examines the biopsychosocial aspects of this intersection. In addition to raising public awareness about these important issues, it provides information so that public health professionals and policy makers may create policies and interventions that address the multiple dimensions of the mental health aspects of women's reproductive health. Contributions to this volume fall into distinct subtopics, including psychosocial aspects of fertility, spontaneous pregnancy loss, menopause, infertility, and female genital mutilation. The contributors use a framework based on gender and human rights, especially reproductive rights, to analyze topics of great importance. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through professionals/practitioners; general readers. M. L. Charleroy University of Minnesota