Women's Health Topics

This is not an exhaustive list; topics were chosen based on information available on the FDA Web site. Titles of articles and brochures are set within quotation marks.

If you are searching for specific information about a disease or disorder, we recommend you visit the National Women's Health Information Center. (Selecting this link will take you off the FDA Website.)

Birth Control

• Guidelines for Evaluation of Non-Drug IUDs
• Guidance for Industry on Contraceptive Labeling
• PREVEN Emergency Contraceptive Kit (PDF)
  (consisting of Emergency Contraceptive Pills and Pregnancy Test Emergency Contraceptive Pills)
• "Birth Control Guide"
  

Breast Implants

• Information from the Center for Devices and Radiological Health
• Draft guidance for implants
• Immunologic effects of silicone breast implants
• Industry Guidance for Saline, Silicone Gel, and Alternative Breast Implants
• "Status Report on Breast Implant Safety"

Cosmetics

• Information from the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
• "Clearing up Cosmetic Confusion"
• "Cosmetic Laser Surgery: A High-Tech Weapon in the Fight Against Aging Skin"
• "Heading Off Hair-Care Disasters: Use Caution with Relaxers and Dyes"
• Liposuction Information
• "Science Meets Beauty: Using Medicine to Improve Appearances"

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov (National Institutes of Health)
• Information About Women and Clinical Trials
• "Clinical Trials of Medical Treatments: Why Volunteer?" (PDF)
• Report: Participation of Females in Clinical Trials and Gender Analysis of Data in Biologic Product Applications
• "Understanding Clinical Trials From The Patient's Perspective"
• "Women's Health: Women Sufficiently Represented in New Drug Testing, but FDA Oversight Needs Improvement" (GAO Report, July 6, 2001)

Diseases

AIDS and Other Immune Diseases

• Information from the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
• Information from the Office of Special Health Issues

Anthrax and Women

• Cipro (Ciprofloxacin): Use by Pregnant and Lactating Women
• Doxycycline (Vibramycin, Monodox, Doryx, Doxy, Atridox, Periodox, Vibra-Tabs): Use by Pregnant and Lactating Women

Arthritis

• "Timely Treatments for an Ageless Disease"

Cancer

• "Breast Cancer: Better Treatments Save More Lives"
• Cancer Liaison Program at the FDA Office of Special Health Issues
• Cervical Cancer Detection (hand held sensors)
  (also see "pap smears")
• "Cervical Cancer Screening"
• Tamoxifen (drug therapy for breast cancer)

Diabetes

• Diabetes Campaign
• "Diabetes: A Growing Public Health Concern"
• "Encouraging Women to Take Charge of Diabetes"
• Fact Sheet: "New Products to Treat Diabetes"
• "HHS, ADA Work to Boost Awareness of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Risk"

Eating Disorders (e.g., Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia)

Heart Disease or High Blood Pressure

Mental Illness

• "Escaping the Prison of a Past Trauma: New Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder"

Osteoporosis

• Information about Osteoporosis and Other Bone Diseases
• "Boning Up on Osteoporosis"
• "Osteoporosis: Are You at Risk?"

Drugs and Treatments

Accutane

• Information from MedWatch
• "Accutane Risk Management Program Strengthened"
• "The Power of Accutane: The Benefits and Risks of a Breakthrough Acne Drug"

Cenestin: Conjugated Estrogen

Lotronex

Menopause and Hormones

• Press Release: Lower Dose of Prempro Approved
• Press Release: Revised Labeling for Estrogen and Estrogen with Progestin
• Hormone Therapy--Latest News (National Women's Health Information Center)
• Women's Health Initiative: Prempro Study
• Safety-Related Labeling Changes for Prempro (MedWatch)
• Approved labeling: Premarin [88K PDF]
• Approved labeling: Prempro [592K PDF]
• "The Estrogen and Progestin Dilemma: New Advice, Labeling Guidelines"

Phen/Fen

• Phen/Fen and Valvular heart disease
• Public health advisory about phen/fen
  (also see "weight loss")

Tamoxifen (drug therapy for breast cancer)

Thalidomide

• Thalidomide Information Page
• Consumer Information
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Thermal Endometrial ablation devices (PDF)
  

Health Fraud

Medical Tests and Procedures

Mammography

• Information from the Center for Devices and Radiological Health
• "FDA Sets Higher Standards for Mammography"

Hysterectomy

• "Alternatives to Hysterectomy: New Technologies, More Options"

Pap Smears

• "New Devices Aim at Improving Pap Test Accuracy"
  (also see "cervical cancer")

A History of the Pregnancy Test Kit

Obstetrics-Gynecology Devices Panel Meetings

Menopause

• "New Attitudes Towards Menopause"
• "Taking Charge of Menopause"

Nutrition

• Information from the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
• "Women and Nutrition: A Menu of Special Needs"

Pregnancy and Motherhood

• "FDA Cautions Against Ultrasound 'Keepsake' Images"
• History of the Pregnancy Test Kit (NIH)
• "HHS Blueprint to Boost Breast-Feeding"
• Infant Formula
• Pediatric Medicine
• Pregnancy "Category C" Labeling
• "Breastmilk or Formula: Making the Right Choice for Your Baby"
• "Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Baby"
• Mercury in Fish and Shellfish--Advisories
• "Over-the-Counter Medicines: What's Right for You?"
• "Pregnancy and the Drug Dilemma"
• Pregnancy Registries Draft Guidance (PDF)
• Reviewer Guidance Evaluation of Human Pregnancy Outcome Data Draft Guidance (PDF)
• Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology
  

Tampons and Toxic Shock Syndrome

• Information from the Office of Public Affairs
• Information from the Center for Devices and Radiological Health
• "Tampon Safety: TSS Now Rare, But Women Still Should Take Care"

Teens--Health Information

• New Treatment for Parasitic Infections in Children
• Non-Stimulant ADHD Drug Approved

Weight Loss

• Information from the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
• "Losing Weight: More than Counting Calories"
• "Ways to Win at Weight Loss"
  (also see "phen/fen")

Women in FDA

• "Frances Oldham Kelsey: FDA Medical Reviewer Leaves Her Mark on History"