About a third of women of reproductive age have at least one chronic condition

A new study finds that about a third of women of reproductive age have a chronic health condition that could complicate pregnancy. Looking at data from nearly 750,000 women between 2010 and 2014, researchers found that some 32% had at least one chronic condition — including diabetes, depression, or asthma. The CDC lists several of these conditions as complications to be aware of during pregnancy and recommends that women who have such conditions but don’t plan to become pregnant obtain long-acting birth control, such as an IUD. However, the study found that fewer than 6% of women with a chronic condition were on such contraception. The study primarily used data from women in Utah, but the authors suggest that primary care providers should aim to increase the use of long-term birth control among chronically ill women.