A large review based on 45 studies including 23,257 women with ovarian cancer and 87,303 controls found that the contraceptive pill substantially reduces women's risk of ovarian cancer for 30 years after they stop taking it, indicating a real protective effect against the cancer. Writing in the Lancet, the author said at least 100,000 deaths from ovarian cancer have been prevented worldwide by the contraceptive pill over 50 years.
It has been known that the pill increases women's risk of breast and cervical cancer, but the author said that these effects disappear after a woman stops taking it while the ovarian protection lasts for decades.
In the editorial, the author said "this study is impressive and compelling" and called for the pill to be available over-the-counter. A scientist writing in The Lancet opposed the over-the-counter access of the pill sayingthat women and their doctors must perform a balancing act between the risk and benefits.
Source: "Ovarian cancer and oral contraceptives: collaborative reanalysis of data from 45 epidemiological studies including 23,257 women with ovarian cancer and 87,303 controls"
The Lancet 2008; 371:303-314
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