Could the pill protect against cancer?

The findings, which analysed all available data worldwide, were published in The Lancet Oncology, and estimate that in the past ten years alone, oral contraceptives have prevented around 200,000 cases of endometrial cancer in developed countries.

Further, the research suggest that the risk of developing endometrial cancer falls by about a quarter for every five years that oral contraceptives have been used.

Associate Professor Karen Canfell, Director of Cancer Research at Cancer Council NSW said previous research had shown that taking the contraceptive pill is linked to a reduced risk of endometrial cancer, but up until now the duration and extent of the long-term benefit had not been fully characterised.

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“This important study has provided the most comprehensive analysis of the protective effects of taking oral contraceptives on the long term risks of developing endometrial cancer. Critically, the findings show that the reduction in risk persists for decades after women stop taking the pill”.

“The incidence of endometrial cancer is low in young women but rises as women age. With women more likely to take the pill in their 20s and 30s than in their 50s and older, the long term protection is good news as it means that women will have a substantial level of protection against endometrial cancer into their older years”.

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The study was an international collaboration that pooled data from 27,276 women with endometrial cancer and 115,743 without endometrial cancer from 36 studies from Australia, North America, Europe, South Africa and Asia.

The longer the use of oral contraception, the greater reduction in the risk of endometrial cancer, with around 10 years of use shown to halve the risk, and every 5 years of use reducing risk by a quarter.

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Professor Canfell added, “The protective effect did not seem to depend on the amount of oestrogen in different types of the contraceptive pill, suggesting the lower-dose pills commonly used in more recent years are as effective at reducing the risk of developing endometrial cancer.

“Endometrial cancer is more likely to be diagnosed in women over the age of 60. The most common symptom is unusual bleeding, especially if this happens after menopause, but other symptoms can include discomfort in the abdomen, pain during sex or painful urination. Women experiencing these symptoms should make an appointment with their GP”.

For more info see cancercouncil.com.au
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