ORCID

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Preconception care promotes better maternal outcomes, may assist in preventing birth defects and improves fertility awareness among healthy childbearing couples. Yet, the significance of preconception care for infertile couples is undeveloped area of practice in Europe. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To discuss the importance of nurses and midwives in providing preconception care to infertile couples in the United Kingdom and Spain. DESIGN: Discursive paper. METHOD: A comparison of different midwifery and nursing approaches to preconception care for infertile couples in two European countries. FINDINGS: At present, infertile couples' needs for preconception care are not routinely identified or understood. There is an opportunity for these needs to be considered and identified by nurses at the time of investigation for infertility or when planning pregnancy with assisted conception. CONCLUSIONS: We argue that, by providing preconception care, nurses and midwives have an opportunity to deliver important advice to infertile couples in both primary care and specialist infertility services.

DOI

10.1111/jocn.14586

Publication Date

2018-12-01

Publication Title

Journal of Clinical Nursing

Volume

27

ISSN

0962-1067

Embargo Period

2019-06-26

Organisational Unit

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Keywords

infertility, midwifery, nursing, preconception

First Page

4411

Last Page

4418

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