Women's History: Our History is Our Strength

Public Health Achievements in Women's Health
March is Women's History Month

March 8, 2011 is the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day.

CDC has included women's health specific issues in its programs since the 1960's, and conducts surveillance and research on many issues important to women's health. CDC funds a host of organizations and agencies, such as states, territories, tribes, national organizations, universities, public health agencies, and more to develop and manage women's health programs. CDC publishes clinical guidelines and recommendations, develops public awareness campaigns, trains health professionals, and provides tools to help improve women's health programs, both domestically and internationally.

Below is a sample of past and present issues, research, and programs CDC has or is working on to improve the health and safety of women.

1978

Began the Collaborative Review of Sterilization (CREST) study with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tubal sterilization. The study was the largest and longest prospective study of women undergoing tubal sterilization.

1983

Reported that women using the Dalkon Shield have a 5-fold increased risk for pelvic inflammatory disease as compared to users of other types of IUDs and non-IUD users.

Determined that an increase in Toxic Shock Syndrome in menstruating women was due to the use of tampons. Also studied a means to detect all cases and determine the risk for toxic shock syndrome.

1986

Began surveillance of maternal mortality. Maternal mortality is defined as the death of a woman during pregnancy, during childbirth, or within 42 days of termination of the pregnancy.

1990

Began the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program to provide free or low-cost mammograms, Pap tests, and follow-up services to low-income women for the early detection and control of breast and cervical cancers.

1993

Identified Chlamydia trachomatis, a bacterial agent causing a sexually transmitted disease, as the leading cause of infertility among women.

1994

Published the first recommendations for the prevention of perinatal transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

1996

Established the Rape Prevention and Education Grant Program to award grants to states and territories for rape prevention and education conducted by rape crisis centers, State sexual assault coalitions, and other public and private nonprofit entities.

1997

Established the WISEWOMAN program to provide screening for heart disease factors, dietary and physical activity interventions for women with abnormal screening results, and referral and follow-up as appropriate.

2003

Launched the Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Campaign to help inform individuals that there may be health problems associated with DES exposure in women who were prescribed DES while pregnant from 1938-1971 as well as their daughters and sons.

2007

Developed The Reproductive Health Assessment Toolkit (RHA) for Conflict-Affected Women, which provides tools to assess the reproductive health needs of conflict-affected women aged 15–49 years.

Launched the One Test. Two Lives. campaign which focuses on ensuring that all women are tested for HIV early in their pregnancy. It provides quick access to a variety of resources for providers and patients to help encourage universal voluntary prenatal testing for HIV.

Launched, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health, the Inside Knowledge Campaign to raise awareness about five main types of gynecologic cancer: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar.

2009

CDC designed The Right to Know Campaign to increase awareness of breast cancer among women with physical disabilities and encourage these women to get screened.

2010

CDC provided guidance and recommendations on the prevention and treatment of H1N1 in pregnant women during the 2009-2010 flu season.

CDC became an outreach partner for Text4baby, a mobile information service that provides free text messages to pregnant women and new moms to help keep them safe and healthy.

CDC convened an Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women to develop initiatives to increase knowledge of breast health and breast cancer among women, particularly among those under the age of 40, and those at increased risk for developing the disease.