Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health laid emphasis on women's reproductive health in its latest edition. In its 16th year, the innovative Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health conducted four surveys over time. Contraception, fertility problems, maternal health including postnatal depression, and taking part in paid work, were some of the issues examined in Australian Longitudinal Study 2009.

This study further revealed that one in six women aged 28 to 33 years experienced fertility problems, miscarriage rates were high. This was disturbingly the result of the fact that many women still keep drinking and smoking throughout pregnancy, ignoring important health warnings.

91 per cent of the younger women wanted to have children and get married. According to the reports this has remained steady since the first survey in 1996. A need for better support for women who want to become mothers has been figured out by the Australian Government.

These reports were obtained by The Sunday Mail from Federal Government-funded longitudinal study on women's health and a copy of the study can be found at www. health. gov. au .