Supporting Reproductive Planning

Guidance for Health Care Providers

Key Messages for Providers

Health care providers have many opportunities to support reproductive planning during routine care for individuals of reproductive age.

Because many pregnancies are unplanned, preconception counselling should be incorporated into routine clinical encounters, not only visits specifically focused on pregnancy planning.

Conversations about reproductive goals, health behaviours, and social supports can help individuals make informed decisions about whether, when, and how they may want to build their families.

These discussions are relevant for women, men, adolescents, and gender-diverse individuals of reproductive age.

Why Reproductive Planning Matters

Reproductive planning provides an opportunity to identify health risks, promote healthy behaviours, and support informed decision-making about pregnancy and family formation.

The preconception period refers to the time before or between pregnancies, which may begin months or years before conception.

Health behaviours and medical conditions during this time can influence:

  • Fertility and conception
  • Fetal development
  • Pregnancy outcomes
  • Long-term health of parents and children

Integrating reproductive planning into routine care allows clinicians to support healthier pregnancies and improved population health outcomes.

Clinical Pearl: Routine Visits are Opportunities for Preconception Care.

Even when pregnancy is not actively planned, discussions about reproductive goals and health behaviours can support informed decision-making and reduce risks before conception.

Core Clinical Principles

Supporting reproductive planning in clinical care should emphasize:

  • Routine conversations about reproductive goals
  • Patient-centred communication
  • Respect for reproductive autonomy
  • Inclusive care for diverse populations
  • Attention to social support and relationship dynamics

These discussions can help individuals reflect on their goals and identify resources or supports they may need.

Routine Screening and Assessment

Reproductive planning discussions can occur during any routine visit with individuals of reproductive age.

Providers may assess:

  • Reproductive goals and pregnancy intentions
  • General health and lifestyle behaviours
  • Social supports and relationships
  • Mental health and stress
  • Barriers to care or resources

Providers may also discuss contraception and pregnancy timing in ways that support reproductive autonomy and patient goals. These conversations should occur regardless of whether pregnancy is actively planned.

Initiating Conversations About Preconception Health

Beginning preconception discussions with open-ended questions can help create a supportive environment for patients to explore their goals and concerns.

Helpful Conversation Starters

  • “Would it be helpful to talk about planning for pregnancy?”
  • “What do you already know about preconception health?”
  • “What would you most like to know about preparing for pregnancy?”
  • “Do you think you might want to have children at some point in the future?”
  • “What are you already doing to take care of your health?”
  • “Do you have any concerns about your health or future pregnancy plans?”

These questions encourage reflection and support shared decision-making.

The Role of Social Support

Social support from partners, family members, and community networks can influence reproductive health decisions and overall well-being.

Supportive relationships may:

  • Encourage healthy behaviours
  • Help individuals plan for pregnancy and parenting
  • Support coping with infertility or pregnancy loss
  • Promote shared decision-making about pregnancy

However, unsupportive or coercive dynamics may affect reproductive autonomy and health behaviours.

Providers should assess both the presence and quality of social support during preconception discussions.

Assessing Support and Relationship Dynamics

Providers can help patients reflect on their support systems and relationship dynamics.

Conversation Prompts

  • “Who is in your circle of support as you think about pregnancy or parenting?”
  • “Would it be helpful for a partner or support person to join a visit about preconception health?”
  • “Do you have any concerns about relationships that may affect pregnancy planning?”

These discussions may help identify barriers to care or safety concerns.

Engaging Men and Partners

Men and partners play an important role in reproductive planning and preconception health.

Conversations with men can focus on:

  • Reproductive goals and family planning
  • Sexual and reproductive health
  • Healthy behaviours that support fertility and pregnancy outcomes
  • Ways to support a partner during pregnancy planning

Conversation Prompts

  • “Have you thought about having children now or in the future?”
  • “Would you like information about preparing for pregnancy or supporting a partner?”
  • “How do you see your role in planning for a healthy pregnancy?”

Including men and partners in preconception discussions can strengthen shared decision-making and support healthier pregnancies.

Practical Clinical Actions

Reproductive planning discussions can be incorporated into routine visits.

At routine visits, consider:

  • Asking about reproductive goals and pregnancy intentions
  • Discussing preconception health and preventive care
  • Assessing lifestyle and health behaviours
  • Exploring social supports and relationship dynamics
  • Engaging partners when appropriate
  • Sharing educational resources
  • Arranging follow-up care or referrals as needed

Small, routine conversations can help individuals make informed decisions and improve reproductive health outcomes.

Health Care Provider Resources

To support reproductive planning conversations in clinical practice, the following resources provide guidance, tools, and patient education materials.

SOGC Resources

Sexandu.ca
A sexual and reproductive health resource hub that provides evidence-based information, tools, and resources on contraception, fertility, pregnancy, and sexual health.

Pregnancyinfo.ca
A resource hub that provides evidence-based information and tools to support pregnancy planning, pregnancy, and postpartum health.

HPVinfo.ca
A resource hub that provides evidence-based information on HPV, including prevention, symptoms, treatment, and related resources for the public.

Itsaplan.ca
A sexual health resource that provides information and tools to support informed contraceptive decision-making.

Yourperiod.ca
A health education resource that provides information on periods, pelvic pain, endometriosis, and related reproductive and gynaecologic health topics.

Websites

Public Health Agency of Canada
A Government of Canada resource that outlines evidence-based guidance on preconception care, including risk assessment, counselling, and interventions to support healthy pregnancies and birth outcomes.

Sex Information and Education Council of Canada
A Canadian sexual health organization that provides education, research, and evidence-informed resources to support sexual and reproductive health promotion.

Dad Central Canada
A Canadian fatherhood resource hub that provides practical information, tools, and support for dads, including new and expecting fathers.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
A Canadian mental health resource hub that provides information, clinical services, education, and tools to support mental health and substance use care.

Healthy Relationships Initiative
A resource collection that offers practical toolkits, reflection activities, and conversation guides to help strengthen different types of relationships.

Tools and Resources

One Key Question® (Reproductive Health Access Project)
A clinical resource hub that provides evidence-based tools, education, and practical guidance to support access to contraception, abortion, miscarriage, and broader sexual and reproductive health care.

Reproductive Life Plan tools (CDC)
A clinical tool that helps health care providers discuss reproductive goals, pregnancy intentions, and preconception health with patients.

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC)