Birth control access under scrutiny as surgeon general pick defends options

The article reports that the Trump administration’s surgeon general nominee faced questions about her past remarks on birth control but reiterated support for access for all women, emphasizing that patients should discuss risks with their doctors. It notes hormonal contraception is widely used for pregnancy prevention and other health reasons, with mostly mild side effects. While meta-analyses show a small, very low increase in breast cancer risk, overall cancer risk remains low and some data suggest protective effects for other cancers. Experts urge maintaining all contraceptive options and caution against inflammatory rhetoric that could limit informed choices.