Reproductive Coercion and Women's Health

Given the epidemic proportion of those affected, the impact of gender-based violence looms large in the study of women's health. One increasingly recognized facet of such violence is reproductive coercion, defined as behavior that interferes with autonomous decision-making in areas of reproductive health. Although the body of literature illustrating the pathology of reproductive coercion is limited, growing data on harms to reproductive choice, health outcomes, and future pregnancies are a sobering appeal for greater publicity and information. This review explores existing knowledge regarding reproductive coercion, highlights areas of future study, and underscores how women's health care providers can better serve this population.