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Fertility and Pregnancy: An Epidemiologic Perspective offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of human reproduction-its biological foundations, historical context, and the factors that can disrupt its processes. In this thoroughly revised edition, Allen Wilcox masterfully integrates insights from history, biology, obstetrics, paediatrics, demography, infectious diseases, molecular genetics, and evolutionary biology to present a cohesive, and accessible overview of reproductive epidemiology.
With clarity and wit, Wilcox enriches the narrative with compelling anecdotes and insightful illustrations, making complex concepts both understandable and memorable. This edition reflects the dynamic nature of the field, incorporating the latest research findings and theoretical advances. These are conveyed in over thirty new illustrations and extensively updated chapters, including the emerging role of cardiovascular disease in pregnancy complications and the often-misunderstood condition of fetal growth restriction.
The book covers a wide range of topics-from the biology of conception and fetal development to the influence of genetics and infectious diseases. It delves into key epidemiologic themes such as recurrence risk within families, the impact of selective fertility, and the methodological challenges of establishing causality. The volume concludes with a thoughtful discussion of unresolved questions and future research opportunities, offering valuable insights for scholars, clinicians, and students alike.
List of contents
- Foundations
- 1: The Creative Biology of Human Reproduction
- 2: On Getting Pregnant
- 3: How Humans Control Their Fertility
- 4: Infections and Reproduction
- 5: The Genetics of Reproduction
- 6: Evolutionary Biology and Eugenics
- 7: Heterogeneity of Risk
- 8: Themes and Variations
- Outcomes
- 9: Fertility, Fecundity, Fecundability
- 10: Very Early Pregnancy Loss
- 11: Miscarriage
- 12: Stillbirth and Infant Mortality
- 13: Twins and More
- 14: Gestational Age and Preterm Delivery
- 15: Birthweight and Fetal Growth
- 16: Birth Defects
- 17: Fetal Exposures and Adult Disease
- 18: Sex Ratio
- 19: Maternal Mortality and Morbidity
- 20: Cardiovascular Disease and Pregnancy
- 21: Methods: Challenges and Opportunities
- 22: Future Directions
About the author
Allen Wilcox is an epidemiologist in Durham NC who studies the biology of human reproduction. He spent his career at NIEHS, one of the National Institutes of Health, with adjunct professorships at the University of North Carolina and Harvard University. He was the editor-in-chief of the journal EPIDEMIOLOGY for 14 years and has served as president of the Society for Epidemiologic Research and the American Epidemiological Society. He holds an MD from the University of Michigan, a PhD from the University of North Carolina, and an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Bergen (Norway).
