New contraceptive pills linked to reduced risk of ovarian cancer

With at least 100 million women worldwide using hormonal contraception, studies have shown a reduced risk in ovarian cancer in women who take new combined types of oral contraceptives.
With previous studies showing a reduced risk in ovarian cancer with older oral contraceptives, Researchers at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark investigated to see if new types of combined oral contraceptives would have the same effect.
After analysing data of 1.9 million women aged 15 – 49 years of age from national prescribing and cancer registers for 19 years, it was concluded that the findings supported there was a reduced risk in combined oral contraceptives. It was estimated 21% of ovarian cancers were prevented in the women taking part in the study.
Researchers have pointed out that they did not study older women, who are likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, but due to the length of the study they were able to adjust for influential factors.
The authors concluded; “Newer combined contraceptives show similar patterns of reduced risk in ovarian cancer as older combined oral products. There is insufficient evidence suggesting that similar protection of progestogen only products offer the same results.”