Birth Control Pills Help Protect Against Cancer

January 25, 2008

(Long Island, N.Y.) In a recent study conducted worldwide, researchers concluded that Birth Control Pills are especially effective in protecting women from Ovarian Cancer even years after they stop taking them. For those who has taken them for more than 15 years, they could be protected up to 30 years from the time they stop taking them.

Ovarian Cancer is a malignant or benign tumor of any histology within an Ovary. Thousands of deaths to women are attributed to Ovarian Cancer and it is the fifth leading cause of death for women worldwide. This startling finding in their research gave optimism to the medical society who works feverously to find a cure for this disease.

Valerie Beral who is the lead author and director for the study says, “Not only does the pill prevent pregnancy, but in the long term, you actually get less cancer.” She also added that “This is the first medication that we know of to cut ovarian cancer risk.” In their study; they had women from all walks of life worldwide enrolled in a program that monitors their progress as they age. They where categorized into two groups, women who takes contraceptive pills and those who does not. The study showed after five years, that 12 women for every 1000 without the pills developed ovarian Cancer while only 8 Women out of 1000 for those who took Birth Control Pills.

“To be able to save thousands of women’s lives every year by using contraceptives is remarkable,” said Dr. Beth Karlan, director of the Women’s Cancer Research Institute at Cedars Sinai in California.

This breakthrough in research studies could save numerable lives worldwide as there has never been a known cure for Ovarian cancer before while the cause is usually unknown as well. Scientist are still searching for answers though for the reasons of the decline in incidents of Ovarian Cancer with pills. “It may have something to do with the hormones in the contraceptives.” said Dr. Debbie Saslow, director of breast and gynecologic cancer at the American Cancer Society. “Hormones such as estrogen can be growth-promoting in some body parts and have the opposite effect in other body parts” she said.

Posted by News LI Editor · Edited by Brianna - Filed Under Health