New contraceptive pills linked to the reduction of ovarian cancer risk in young women

New types of combined oral contraceptives (containing both low doses of estrogen and new progestins) are associated with reduced risk of ovarian cancer in young women, according to a large study published by BMJ aujourd & # 39; hui.

The results show that this positive effect is reinforced with longer periods of use and persisted for several years after stopping treatment, thus providing important reassurance to women, say the researchers.

At least 100 million women around the world use hormonal contraception every day. Previous research has shown a reduction in the risk of ovarian cancer in women who take combined oral contraceptives, but most evidence relates to the use of older products, containing higher levels of oral contraceptives. 39, estrogens and older progestins.

Women who use newer oral contraceptives and other hormonal contraceptive methods also want to know if they are likely to benefit from the same benefit.

Thus, researchers from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark have studied the influence of new hormonal contraceptives (combined products and compounds composed only of progestins) on the overall and specific types of ovarian cancer in women of childbearing age.

Using the national prescription and cancer registries, they analyzed data on nearly 1.9 million Danish women between the ages of 15 and 49 between 1995 and 2014.

Women were classified as never using (no registration of hormonal contraception), current or recent users (up to one year after stopping treatment) or former users (more than one year after Stop) of different hormonal contraceptives.

Most hormonal contraceptives (86%) were combined with oral products.

After taking into account several factors, including age and parity, researchers found that the number of ovarian cancers was highest among women who had never used hormonal contraception (7.5 per 100,000 person-years). the number of cases of ovarian cancer was 3.2 per 100,000 person-years.

There was no strong evidence to suggest a protective effect in women who used products containing only progestins, although the researchers point out that few women used these products exclusively. This limits the ability to detect an effect.

The reduced risk for combination products was observed with almost all types of ovarian cancer and there was little evidence of significant differences between products containing different types of progestins.

Similar results were also observed in women followed up to their first contraceptive-type change.

On the basis of these figures, researchers say that hormonal contraception has prevented about 21% of ovarian cancers in this group of women.

This is an observational study, so it is not possible to draw definitive conclusions about the cause and effect, but they support the results of studies of older products. The researchers point out that they have not studied older women, among whom most cases of ovarian cancer occur. However, it was a large-scale study with a long follow-up period, and the researchers were able to adapt to a range of potentially influential factors.

"According to our findings, contemporary combined hormonal contraceptives are still associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer in women of childbearing age, with trends similar to those seen with combined oral products more old ones, "say the authors.

"The reduced risk seems to persist after stopping use, although the duration of benefit is uncertain." Currently, there is insufficient evidence to suggest similar protection among exclusive users of products containing only progestins. they conclude.

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More information:
Association between Contemporary Hormonal Contraception and Ovarian Cancer in Women of Childbearing Age in Denmark: Prospective Cohort Study at National Scale, BMJ www.bmj.com/content/362/bmj.k3609