Population - Women - Ages 18-44 in Oregon

Oregon

The demographics of a state influence the health needs and outcomes of its population. Understanding a state’s demographic breakdown by age, income, education, race/ethnicity and other factors can help state health officials determine health promotion and disease prevention priorities. The proportion of women of reproductive age (18-44 years old) varies across states and impacts women’s health and birth outcomes. Access to contraceptive and family planning services is particularly important in areas where there is a high proportion of women of reproductive age and areas with limited access to health care, contraception or other women’s health services. This helps to ensure equitable reproductive health outcomes and prevent unintended pregnancies.

Women of reproductive age have unique health needs that evolve throughout the life course, including menstrual health, reproductive health and menopause. Pregnancy-related health issues, such as postpartum depression, are another concern. Maternal mortality rates in the United States are higher than in other comparable countries, although data from the National Vital Statistics System indicate a recent decrease. Contributing factors to the higher maternal mortality rate in the U.S. include inequities in health care access, women getting pregnant at older ages (35 years old or older) and a rise in chronic health conditions among women of reproductive age. Women in the U.S. also have higher rates of chronic conditions and mental health needs than their international counterparts. Furthermore, there are severe and persistent health disparities by race and ethnicity in the United States — in 2023, Black women in the U.S. had a maternal mortality rate more than 3 times that of white women.

Other health concerns impacting women of reproductive age include: 

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HPV, which is the cause of 9 out of every 10 cases of cervical cancer.
• Cervical cancer, which has the highest prevalence among women ages 35-44.
• Breast cancer, which has an increased risk with age, but can affect anyone. It is recommended that women have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at age 25. 
• Intimate partner violence (IPV), which 41% of women will experience over their lifetimes. IPV is associated with negative mental and physical health outcomes that may also affect the cardiac, digestive, reproductive, nervous and other systems in the long term. 
• Mental health conditions, many of which are more common among women than men and manifest differently. 
• Heavy menstrual bleeding, or menorrhagia, which affects one in every five women.
• Autoimmune disorders, which are twice as common among women than men. These conditions can be triggered by periods of extensive stress, such as during pregnancy, or when experiencing significant hormonal changes.

Declercq, Eugene, and Laurie Zephyrin. Maternal Mortality in the United States: A Primer. Data Brief. The Commonwealth Fund, 2020. https://doi.org/10.26099/ta1q-mw24.

Gunja, Munira Z., Shanoor Seervai, Laurie C. Zephyrin, and Reginald D. II Williams. Health and Health Care for Women of Reproductive Age: How the United States Compares with Other High-Income Countries. Issue Brief. The Commonwealth Fund, April 5, 2022. https://doi.org/10.26099/4pph-j894.

Hoyert, Donna L. Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2023. NCHS Health E-Stats. National Center for Health Statistics, February 5, 2025. https://doi.org/10.15620/cdc/174577.

Zapata, Lauren B., Karen Pazol, Kathryn M. Curtis, Debra J. Kane, Tara C. Jatlaoui, Suzanne G. Folger, Ekwutosi M. Okoroh, Shanna Cox, and Maura K. Whiteman. “Need for Contraceptive Services Among Women of Reproductive Age — 45 Jurisdictions, United States, 2017–2019.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 70, no. 25 (June 25, 2021): 910–15.https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7025a2.