CDC Staff Cut as HHS Restructures Oversight on Women's Birth Control Safety

For Brianna Henderson, birth control transcends mere pregnancy prevention. Diagnosed with a rare heart condition post-childbirth, the Texas mother must select contraception that safeguards her health while preventing potentially life-threatening pregnancies. For over ten years, a dedicated team at the CDC developed national guidelines aimed at ensuring safe contraceptive prescriptions for women with medical conditions, such as heart disease and lupus. However, the HHS, under the Trump administration, dismantled this team, raising concerns among clinicians and advocacy groups that this will jeopardize women's and infants’ health. Experts stress that counseling and prescribing for high-risk women requires specialized attention. A recently fired CDC worker lamented the loss of an essential safety monitoring resource. Henderson described her heart failure experience as terrifying, emphasizing the critical need for informed contraceptive options. Without access to updated guidelines and risk assessments for various health conditions, the implications for maternal health remain profound.