October 27, 2025

NASPAG Advocacy Statement on Planned Destruction of Contraceptive Stockpiles

The North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (NASPAG) is committed to supporting evidence-based, unbiased reproductive care for youth. We are deeply concerned by reports of plans to destroy United States tax dollar–funded stockpiles of contraceptive pills, implants, injections, intrauterine devices, and condoms, which are currently being held in storage in Belgium and in the United Arab Emirates1. While official reporting remains unclear on whether some of these supplies have already been destroyed, their potential loss would represent a significant setback for global health.

NASPAG strongly advocates for the distribution of these invaluable supplies for patient use as soon as possible. Originally slated for use by vulnerable populations in lower-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the stockpiles have an estimated value of $12 million.¹ The potential economic impact is substantial. Approximately 10 million unintended pregnancies occur annually in Sub-Saharan Africa, with associated costs of at least $1.7 billion per year.² Contraceptives, recognized as essential medications by the World Health Organization, are not abortifacients; they work by preventing pregnancy before fertilization, thereby preventing unintended pregnancies and as such, reducing the need for abortions.³

The benefits of contraceptives extend beyond pregnancy prevention. Hormonal contraceptives are evidence-based therapies for heavy menstrual bleeding, severe period pain, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and premenstrual mood disorders.4 They are used for treatment and risk-reduction of certain gynecologic cancers. Condoms further strengthen public health and decrease healthcare costs by preventing transmission of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis, HPV, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, among other infections. The economic burden of sexually transmitted infections in Africa alone was estimated at $960 million in 2021.⁵

Although destruction has been presented as a fiscally prudent cost-cutting measure, it would incur an estimated additional cost of $167,0001, in addition to the value of the supplies themselves. There are compelling practical alternatives, such as sale to willing non-governmental organizations, that would prevent wasteful destruction and mitigate the devastating downstream effects on global health. As such, NASPAG urges the preservation and immediate distribution of these vital medical stockpiles. These supplies can contribute to billions of dollars in healthcare cost savings. Access to contraception promotes health equity, education, and self-determination for young people globally – outcomes that benefit communities for generations.

How can you help: 

  1. Support Legislation: Contact your U.S. congressional representatives and U.S. Senators to urge support for the Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act6,7, introduced in the House of Congress by Representatives Meeks, Frankel, and Meng, and in the US Senate by Senators Shaheen and Schatz.

  2. Donate to Non-Governmental Organizations:  Contribute to organizations like MSI Reproductive Choices (msichoices.org), or IPPF (ippf.org), which are actively offering to purchase and distribute the stockpiles at no cost to the U.S. 

  3. Contact Decision-Makers Directly:  Email or call the U.S. State Department to advocate for alternatives to destruction. 

FIGIJ Support for the NASPAG Statement

The International Federation of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (FIGIJ) expresses its full support for NASPAG’s statement and its deep concern over the possible destruction of contraceptive stockpiles initially intended for populations in sub-Saharan Africa. Destroying these supplies would be a serious setback to public health, with a direct impact on girls and adolescents.

FIGIJ urges that these supplies be preserved and distributed immediately to the populations for whom they were intended. Contraceptives are essential medicines and are not abortifacients: in addition to preventing unintended pregnancies, they are used to treat common conditions such as heavy uterine bleeding and iron deficiency anaemia, dysmenorrhea, and endometriosis, among other conditions. Condoms also contribute to public health by preventing sexually transmitted infections and reducing healthcare costs.

 

References

  1. Bearak M, Rauhala E. The U.S. bought $12 million in aid for poor nations. Under Trump, it may be destroyed. The Washington Post. June 5, 2025. Accessed September 18, 2025.https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2025/06/05/usaid-money-hiv-contraceptives-trump-destroyed/

  2. UNAIDS. The cost of inaction: High HIV and SRH risks for young women in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Geneva: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS; 2025. Accessed September 18, 2025.https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/JC3130E-cost-of-inaction-south-africa-zimbabwe_en.pdf

  3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 615: Access to contraception. Obstet Gynecol. 2015;125(1):250-255

  4.  American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG Clinical Consensus No. 3: General approaches to medical management of menstrual suppression. Obstet Gynecol. 2022;140(3):566-580.

  5. Guttmacher Institute. Investing in treatment of curable STIs in the African Union: Health and financial returns. New York: Guttmacher Institute; 2021. Accessed September 18, 2025.https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/investing-treatment-curable-stis-african-union

  6. Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act, H R ll, 119th Cong, 1st Sess (2025).

  7. Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act, S 2252, 119th Cong (2025).
 

 

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