Combined oral contraceptives show they can prevent ovarian cancer

New study shows use of oral contraceptives reduces risk of ovarian cancer.

• From: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
• Published: 11 December 2014

• Therapeutic area: Obstetrics, gynaecology and fertility

Article date: April 2008

A new study^{[footnote 1]}of more than 23,200 women with ovarian cancer has confirmed that use of combined oral contraceptives (COC) reduces the risk of ovarian cancer. This effect increases with longer duration of use and persists for many years after stopping. The researchers estimate that about 2 cases of ovarian cancer and 1 death from the disease before age 75 years are prevented for every 5,000 women years of use of combined oral contraceptives.

Article citation: Drug Safety Update April 2008; Vol 1, Issue 9: 10

1. Collaborative Group on Epidemiological Studies of Ovarian Cancer. Lancet 2008; 371: 303–14. ↩

Published 11 December 2014