National Women's Health Network: A History of Advocacy and Regulation
The National Women's Health Network (NWHN) stands as a pivotal force in the fight for women's medical safety and reproductive rights. Founded during a period of rising feminist consciousness in the mid-1970s, the organization shifted the focus of health advocacy from purely legislative lobbying to the critical monitoring of regulatory bodies. By challenging the status quo of pharmaceutical oversight, the NWHN has spent decades ensuring that women's health is prioritized over corporate profit.
The Founding and Evolution of NWHN
Established in late 1975, the organization was originally named the National Women's Health Lobby. It was founded by a dedicated group of advocates: Barbara Seaman, Alice Wolfson, Belita Cowan, Mary Howell, and Phyllis Chesler. The primary mission was to monitor federal legislation, research regarding women's health, Department of Health, Education and Welfare regulations, and hearings held by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—the federal agency responsible for protecting public health by ensuring the safety and efficacy of drugs.
By December 1975, the founders renamed the organization the National Women's Health Network. This change reflected a strategic realization: regulatory groups often wielded more direct influence over the actual practice of women's healthcare than legislative bodies did.
Early Activism and the Fight Against Synthetic Estrogens
The NWHN's first major action took place on December 15 and 16, 1975, with a demonstration outside the FDA building in Rockville, Maryland. The protest targeted the FDA's approval and perceived lack of oversight regarding synthetic estrogens (man-made versions of the female sex hormone).
The timing of the protest was critical. Two scientific studies on the risks of estrogenic drugs were slated for publication in The New England Journal of Medicine, and the FDA was simultaneously holding hearings on diethylstilbestrol (DES). DES had previously been prescribed to pregnant women to prevent miscarriages, but by 1971, it was discovered to cause clear-cell adenocarcinoma—a rare form of vaginal cancer—in women and girls exposed to the drug while in utero.
During the demonstration, approximately 100 participants, including Barbara Seaman and radical feminist theologian Mary Daly, held a funeral service to honor women who had died due to synthetic estrogens. Speakers highlighted the dangers of DES, combined oral contraceptive pills, the morning-after pill, and estrogen replacement therapy for menopausal women. One speaker, Jim Luggen, shared the personal tragedy of his wife's death from a pulmonary embolism caused by oral birth control.
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A Landmark Victory: Patient Packaging Inserts
The pressure from the NWHN protests, combined with the Nelson Pill Hearings, led to a historic shift in medical transparency. For the first time in U.S. history, Patient Packaging Inserts (PPIs)—printed documents listing the side effects of a medication—were mandated for oral contraceptives.
Expanding the Mission: Information and Policy
With financial support from a grant from the Ms. Foundation, the NWHN expanded its role to become a clearinghouse for women's health information. This allowed the organization to provide objective, health-related data filtered through a feminist perspective.
Over the following decades, the NWHN continued to challenge pharmaceutical safety. In August 2006, the organization petitioned the FDA to stop the sale of combination treatments involving estrogen and testosterone.
The organization's influence extended into the FDA itself. Susan F. Wood, a former member of the NWHN Board of Directors, served as the Director of the FDA Office of Women's Health (OWH) and Assistant Commissioner for Women's Health from November 2000 to August 2005. Wood eventually resigned on principle due to the continued delays in the approval of Plan B, an emergency contraceptive.
Modern Advocacy and Reproductive Rights
In recent years, the NWHN has expanded its focus to include broader reproductive healthcare access. In 2013, the network joined the All*Above All campaign, lobbying Congress to repeal state and federal restrictions on abortion care coverage.
Continuing this trajectory, the NWHN began providing fiscal sponsorship in 2015 to Plan C, a non-profit campaign dedicated to increasing access to medical abortion.
Key Facts
- Founded: Late 1975 as the National Women's Health Lobby.
- Core Focus: Monitoring the FDA and federal health regulations.
- Major Achievement: Helped secure the first-ever Patient Packaging Inserts (PPIs) for oral contraceptives.
- Key Health Concern: Campaigned against the risks of DES and synthetic estrogens.
- Recent Initiatives: Sponsorship of Plan C and lobbying for abortion care coverage via All*Above All.
| Year | Event/Action | Impact/Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Founded as National Women's Health Lobby | Established monitoring of FDA and federal health research. |
| 1975 | FDA Protest (Rockville, MD) | Raised awareness of DES and synthetic estrogen risks. |
| Post-1975 | Advocacy for PPIs | First Patient Packaging Inserts in U.S. history for contraceptives. |
| 2006 | FDA Petition | Sought to cease sales of estrogen-testosterone combinations. |
| 2013 | All*Above All Campaign | Lobbied for repeal of abortion care coverage restrictions. |
| 2015 | Plan C Sponsorship | Supported access to medical abortion. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the organization change its name from "Lobby" to "Network"?
The founders realized that regulatory agencies, such as the FDA, had a more significant and immediate impact on women's health outcomes than legislative bodies did.
What is DES and why was it controversial?
Diethylstilbestrol (DES) was a drug prescribed to pregnant women to prevent miscarriages. It became controversial after it was discovered to cause clear-cell adenocarcinoma, a rare vaginal cancer, in daughters who were exposed to the drug while in the womb.
What are Patient Packaging Inserts (PPIs)?
PPIs are documents included with medication that list potential side effects. The NWHN helped secure these for oral contraceptives, marking the first time such inserts were used in the United States.
Who is Susan F. Wood and what was her role?
Susan F. Wood was a member of the NWHN Board of Directors who served as the Director of the FDA Office of Women's Health. She resigned in 2005 to protest the delayed approval of the emergency contraceptive Plan B.
What is the NWHN's current stance on reproductive health?
The NWHN continues to advocate for reproductive rights, including lobbying for the repeal of restrictions on abortion care coverage and supporting access to medical abortion through organizations like Plan C.