National Women's Health Network
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The National Women's Health Network (NWHN) was a non-profit
women's health Women's health is an example of population health, where health is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". Often treated ...
advocacy organization located in
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
It was founded in 1975 by Barbara Seaman, Alice Wolfson, Belita Cowan, Mary Howell, and Phyllis Chesler. The stated mission of the organization was to give women a greater voice within the healthcare system. The NWHN researched and lobbied federal agencies on such issues as
AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...
,
reproductive rights Reproductive rights are legal rights and freedoms relating to human reproduction, reproduction and reproductive health that vary amongst countries around the world. The World Health Organization defines reproductive rights: Reproductive rights ...
,
breast cancer Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a Breast lump, lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, Milk-rejection sign, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipp ...
, older women's health, and new contraceptive technologies. The Women's Health Voice, the NWHN's health information program, provided independent research on a variety of women's health topics. In December 2024, the NWHN sunset their operations and shut down after 50 years of advocating for women's health.


History

The NWHN was founded in late 1975 as the ''National Women's Health Lobby'' by Barbara Seaman, Alice Wolfson, Belita Cowan, Mary Howell, and Phyllis Chesler. It was created to be both a
lobbying Lobbying is a form of advocacy, which lawfully attempts to directly influence legislators or government officials, such as regulatory agency, regulatory agencies or judiciary. Lobbying involves direct, face-to-face contact and is carried out by va ...
organization and to monitor federal legislation and research relating to women's health, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hearings, and Department of Health, Education and Welfare regulations. By December 1975, the organization was renamed the ''National Women's Health Network'' after the group realized that regulatory groups, as opposed to legislative bodies, had more influence on women's health. The first action of the NWHN was a demonstration held outside of the FDA building in
Rockville, Maryland Rockville is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, and is part of the Washington metropolitan area. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census tabulated Rockville's population at 67,117, making it the fourth ...
, on December 15 and 16 of that year, in order protest against the FDA's approval and lack of oversight of synthetic
estrogen Estrogen (also spelled oestrogen in British English; see spelling differences) is a category of sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. There are three ...
s. The protest was planned for those days because two scientific studies done on the risks of estrogenic drugs were about to be published in ''
The New England Journal of Medicine ''The New England Journal of Medicine'' (''NEJM'') is a weekly medical journal published by the Massachusetts Medical Society. Founded in 1812, the journal is among the most prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals. Its 2023 impact factor w ...
'' and inside the building, the FDA was going to be holding hearings on the risks of DES (
diethylstilbestrol Diethylstilbestrol (DES), also known as stilbestrol or stilboestrol, is a nonsteroidal estrogen medication, which is presently rarely used. In the past, it was widely used for a variety of indications, including pregnancy support for those with ...
)--formerly prescribed to pregnant women in order to prevent miscarriages and other complications, by 1971 DES had been found to cause a rare cancer, clear-cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina, in women and girls exposed to the drug '' in utero''—and whether to mandate patient packaging inserts for estrogen replacement therapy drugs prescribed to menopausal women. On the outside of the building, the demonstrators held a funeral service to memorialize women who had died after taking drugs containing synthetic estrogens. Speakers discussed the risks of taking medications like DES, the
morning-after pill Emergency contraception (EC) is a birth control measure, used after sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy. There are different forms of EC. Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs), sometimes simply referred to as emergency contraceptives (ECs), ...
, estrogen replacement therapy for menopausal women, as well as
combined oral contraceptive pill The combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP), often referred to as the birth control pill or colloquially as "the pill", is a type of birth control that is designed to be Oral administration, taken orally by women. It is the oral form of combi ...
s. Speakers included Jim Luggen, a widower whose late wife had died of a pulmonary embolism caused by the oral birth control she was taking; Mary Daly, a radical feminist theologian and philosopher; a DES daughter Sherry Leibowitz; and Barbara Seaman. The protest had approximately 100 participants and Richard Crout, the head of FDA Bureau of Drugs at the time, attended. Participants carried signs reading "Feed Estrogen to the Rats at the FDA" and "Women's Health, Not Drug Company Wealth". After the protests and the Nelson Pill Hearings, Patient Packaging Inserts (PPIs) listing side effects were instated for oral contraceptives—the first PPIs in U.S. history. With the help of a grant from the Ms. Foundation, the NWMN also became a clearinghouse for women's health information, and continues to provide women with objective health information from a feminist viewpoint. The NWHN petitioned the FDA in August, 2006 to cease sales of estrogen
testosterone Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and androgen in Male, males. In humans, testosterone plays a key role in the development of Male reproductive system, male reproductive tissues such as testicles and prostate, as well as promoting se ...
combination treatments. The NWHN Board of Directors included Susan F. Wood, who served as Assistant Commissioner for Women's Health and Director of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Women's Health (OWH) from November 2000 through August 2005, when she resigned on principle due to the continued delay of approval of the
emergency contraceptive Emergency contraception (EC) is a birth control measure, used after sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy. There are different forms of EC. Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs), sometimes simply referred to as emergency contraceptives (ECs), ...
, Plan B. In 2013, the NWHN joined the All*Above All campaign to lobby for Congress to repeal federal and state restrictions on abortion care coverage. In 2015, the NWHN began fiscal sponsorship of Plan C, a non-profit organization and campaign for access to
medical abortion A medical abortion, also known as medication abortion or non-surgical abortion, occurs when drugs (medication) are used to bring about an abortion. Medical abortions are an alternative to surgical (also called procedural or instrumentation) a ...
.


Values

*There is worth in women's personal accounts of their experiences, and health policy should echo women's diverse experiences. *The normal changes that women experience over their lifetimes should not be over treated. *Every woman should have access to quality health care. *Information given to women to direct their health decisions should be motivated by evidence rather than profit. *Government has the responsibility to provide for the health and welfare of all people. *Scientific analysis that takes into account systems of oppression and power is valuable to all.


Raising Women's Voices

The National Women's Health Network helped found Raising Women's Voices, a national initiative that advocates affordable healthcare for everyone. Raising Women's Voices wants to ensure the national discourse on healthcare reform takes the needs of women into account. Other founding members include Mergerwatch and the Avery Institute for Social Change. Raising Women's Voices includes a list of 26 principles including: * High quality health care for all. *Ensure provision of the full range of reproductive and women's health services. Such services should include, but are not limited to, maternity care, pre- and post-natal care, contraception, abortion, treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted infections, and fertility treatment; *Include comprehensive dental care for both children and adults. *Actively address and work to eliminate racial, ethnic, gender and class disparities in health care access, as well as disparities due to immigration status, disabilities and sexual or gender identity.


Publications


Fact sheets and position papers

The NWHN published independently researched fact sheets and position papers on a variety of women's health topics including
breast cancer Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a Breast lump, lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, Milk-rejection sign, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipp ...
,
endometriosis Endometriosis is a disease in which Tissue (biology), tissue similar to the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, grows in other places in the body, outside the uterus. It occurs in women and a limited number of other female mammals. Endomet ...
,
cervical cancer Cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix or in any layer of the wall of the cervix. It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that can invade or spread to other parts of the body. Early on, typically no symptoms are seen. Later sympt ...
, fibroids,
menopause Menopause, also known as the climacteric, is the time when Menstruation, menstrual periods permanently stop, marking the end of the Human reproduction, reproductive stage for the female human. It typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 5 ...
and hormonal therapy,
mammogram Mammography (also called mastography; DICOM modality: MG) is the process of using low-energy X-rays (usually around 30 kVp) to examine the human breast for diagnosis and screening. The goal of mammography is the early detection of breast cancer ...
s,
abortion Abortion is the early termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. Abortions that occur without intervention are known as miscarriages or "spontaneous abortions", and occur in roughly 30–40% of all pregnan ...
, and
hysterectomy Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus and cervix. Supracervical hysterectomy refers to removal of the uterus while the cervix is spared. These procedures may also involve removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy), fallopian tubes ( salpi ...
. Every publication is from an objective, feminist perspective without endorsing any specific treatment plan or method.


The Women's Health Activist

The National Women's Health Network published a bimonthly newsletter, The Women's Health Activist. The Women's Health Activist has been in circulation since 1976, but was known as the Network News up until 2001. The newsletter included articles by NWHN board members, staff members, and contributors from diverse organizations and institutions. Contributors included the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum,
Georgetown University Georgetown University is a private university, private Jesuit research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Founded by Bishop John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore), John Carroll in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic higher education, Ca ...
, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, PharmedOut, and SisterLove, Inc. Content consisted of independently researched articles on current events, health policy, awareness campaigns, informational topics, and medical updates. Articles in the Women's Health Activist spoke out against many government actions including the FDA's re-approval of silicone gel breast implants.


References


External links


National Women's Health Network records
Sophia Smith Collection The Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College is an internationally recognized repository of manuscripts, photographs, periodicals and other primary sources in women's history. General One of the largest recognized repositories of manuscripts, a ...
, Smith College Special Collections
National Women's Health NetworkNWHN on FacebookNWHN on TwitterRaising Women's Voices Campaign
{{Authority control Women's political advocacy groups in the United States Medical and health organizations based in Washington, D.C. Organizations established in 1975 Women's health movement