title: The pharmacist's role in promoting preconception health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the pharmacist's role in preconception health.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed search using the terms preconception, immunizations, epilepsy, diabetes, depression, tobacco, asthma, hypertension, anticoagulation, pharmacist, pregnancy, and current national guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preconception health has become recognized as an important public health focus to improve pregnancy outcomes. Pharmacists have a unique role as accessible health care providers to optimize preconception health by screening women for tobacco use, appropriate immunizations, and current medication use. Counseling patients on preconception risk factors and adequate folic acid supplementation as well as providing recommendations for safe and effective management of chronic conditions are also critical and within the scope of practice for pharmacists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pharmacists play an important role in medication screening, chronic disease state management, and preconception planning to aid women in preparing for healthy pregnancies.
authors.forename: Shareen Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: El-Ibiary
authors.forename: Erin C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Raney
authors.forename: Merry-K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Moos
mesh_terms: D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D024382:Professional Role; D012307:Risk Factors