NOW Holds Symposium on Silicone Breast Implants

In advance of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's consideration this fall of whether to allow silicone gel-filled breast implants back onto the general market, NOW sponsored a symposium on silicone breast implants, featuring presentations by a group of researchers, clinicians and federal health officials.

An important part of NOW's mission is to ensure that women are provided with a thorough scientific basis for informed decisions about their health care, including the use of medical devices such as breast implants.

The May 8 symposium was followed by the release of a summary of the scientific findings at a well covered press conference and a Capitol Hill briefing on July 21.

Long-term effects were identified as one of the most important factors for future research. According to the FDA's own studies, half of silicone implants will fail within ten years and 75 percent will rupture in 20 years.

The report is posted on the NOW web site at www.now.org/symposium, along with an action alert message where activists can urge the FDA to not approve silicone implants without long-term research and an assurance of safety.