Climate change is a global threat that poses significant risks to pregnant women and to their developing fetus and newborn. Educating pregnant women about the risks to their pregnancy may improve maternal and child health outcomes. Prior research suggests that presenting health information in narrative format can be more effective than a didactic format. Hence, the purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of two brief educational interventions in a diverse group of pregnant women (n = 151). Specifically, using a post-test only randomized experiment, we compared the effectiveness of brief information presented in a narrative format versus a didactic format; both information formats were also compared to a no information control group. Outcome measures included pregnant women’s actual and perceived knowledge, risk perception, affective assessment, self-efficacy, intention to take protective behaviors, and subsequent information seeking behavior. As hypothesized, for all outcome measures, the narrative format was more effective than the didactic format. These results suggest the benefits of a narrative approach (versus a didactic approach) to educating pregnant women about the maternal and child health threats posed by climate change. This study adds to a growing literature on the effectiveness of narrative-based approaches to health communication.

This FIGO committee opinion paper addresses the growing body of evidence linking environmental exposures to common gynecologic and reproductive conditions across the life course. From adolescence through menopause, women are exposed to a wide range of environmental toxicants, including endocrine‐disrupting chemicals, air pollutants, heavy metals, pesticides, and industrial compounds, which influence hormonal function, ovarian reserve, and disease risk. This article synthesizes high‐quality systematic and authoritative reviews along with high‐quality literature on exposures that can increase the risk of infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, hormonally mediated cancers, and menopause. It highlights underlying mechanisms, such as endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, inflammation, and epigenetic modification. Importantly, the article emphasizes disparities in exposure and outcomes, particularly among historically marginalized populations with heightened vulnerability to environmental injustice. Practical guidance is offered to help clinicians incorporate environmental health into routine care, through patient counseling, exposure screening, and advocacy. The article calls for obstetrician/gynecologists to take leadership roles in recognizing environmental risk as a determinant of reproductive health and equity—both within the clinic and through systems‐level policy change.

Environmental exposures are increasingly recognized as critical, yet underappreciated, determinants of reproductive, perinatal, and early childhood health. Developed through a structured consensus process and grounded in systematic evidence review, this FIGO committee opinion provides a comprehensive synthesis of the current evidence linking environmental toxicants—including air pollution, endocrine‐disrupting chemicals, heavy metals, and climate‐related stressors—to common obstetric outcomes such as preterm birth, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and impaired fetal growth, as well as to early childhood outcomes including neurodevelopmental delay, metabolic disease, and atopic conditions. This article also outlines common biological mechanisms, such as endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, epigenetic modification, and placental dysfunction, and provides clinicians with actionable guidance for integrating environmental health into reproductive care through screening, counseling, and advocacy. Special attention is paid to the role of social and structural inequities in amplifying exposure risks and health disparities. By linking environmental drivers to familiar clinical outcomes, this guidance empowers obstetricians and allied professionals to engage in preventive care that safeguards maternal and child health across the life course. FIGO calls on reproductive health professionals to embrace this leadership role—not only in clinical practice, but in shaping policies that protect current and future generations.