Researchers have reported in the International Journal of Cancer that Oral contraceptives and intrauterine devices (IUD) may offer protection against endometrial cancer.
As part of their investigation, the team conducted a study on 1,204 women from Shanghai who were recently diagnosed with endometrial cancer and 1,212 healthy women. Nearly 223 of cancer patients and 302 women from the healthy group had used an oral contraceptive. There was a comparative study undertaken where the healthy women were evaluated against important parameters in cancer afflicted women.Taking into account several other risk factors for endometrial cancer, resorting to oral contraceptives reduced the risk by 25 percent. Prolonged use of contraceptives further reduced the risk. The benefit was stretched for almost 25 years after contraceptives were stopped. The researchers opine that the main reason for this benefit is the key component progestin in the oral pills, which curbs the abnormal growth of cells in the endometrium.
Source-Medindia
SAV
