According to a new study in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases that compared 136 women with rheumatoid arthritis to 544 without the condition, women who had breastfed for 13 months or more were half as likely to develop the disease as those who had never breastfed. The study also found that taking oral contraceptives did not have the same effect.
Experts said previous studies showed that "breastfeeding was a risk factor for developing rheumatoid arthritis in a small group of women soon after giving birth to their first child."
Source: "Breast-feeding, but not oral contraceptives, is associated with a reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis" Annals of Rheumatic Diseases. Published Online First: 13 May 2008. doi:10.1136/ard.2007.084707 (f/t via Athens)
Showing posts with label oral contraceptives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oral contraceptives. Show all posts
Monday, May 19, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Contraceptive pill has prevented 100,000 deaths
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
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
Friday, November 09, 2007
Pills linked to cervical cancer risk
A Belgian study found that use of oral contraceptives increased the risk of cervical cancer - but the risk fell 10 years after the women stopped taking the pills.
Some experts feared that this study may mislead the public that there is a direct link between cervical cancer and oral contraceptives. They said that the women on the pill may have more sexual activities and therefore more likely to be infected with HPV, but cervical cancer is only caused by HPV. Many doctors said that women should not stop taking them.
Source: "Cervical cancer and hormonal contraceptives: collaborative reanalysis of individual data for 16 573 women with cervical cancer and 35 509 women without cervical cancer from 24 epidemiological studies - International Collaboration of Epidemiological Studies of Cervical Cancer" The Lancet, vol 370; 9599, pp 1609-1621
Some experts feared that this study may mislead the public that there is a direct link between cervical cancer and oral contraceptives. They said that the women on the pill may have more sexual activities and therefore more likely to be infected with HPV, but cervical cancer is only caused by HPV. Many doctors said that women should not stop taking them.
Source: "Cervical cancer and hormonal contraceptives: collaborative reanalysis of individual data for 16 573 women with cervical cancer and 35 509 women without cervical cancer from 24 epidemiological studies - International Collaboration of Epidemiological Studies of Cervical Cancer" The Lancet, vol 370; 9599, pp 1609-1621
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