The birth control pill empowers women to plan pregnancies on their terms, preventing unintended ones. Yet it's often criticized for risks like cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. A landmark study published August 5 uncovers key benefits: oral contraceptives protect against endometrial (uterine) cancer and may have averted nearly 200,000 cases over the past decade.
Valérie Beral, Professor at the University of Oxford and study coordinator, explains: "The significant protective effect of oral contraceptives against endometrial cancer persists for years after stopping the pill." Benefits emerge even with short-term use and extend past age 50, when these cancers commonly appear.
The study found that 5 years of use cuts the risk of endometrial cancer before age 75 by about 25%. Ten years of use halves it, dropping from 2.3 cases per 100 women to 1.3. While these gains are substantial, researchers note the pill increases risks for cardiovascular issues like heart attacks and strokes.
Nicolas Wentzensen and Amy Berrington of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, USA, add: "Risk-benefit profiles favor low-estrogen formulas, but venous thrombosis risk remains higher for users than non-users."
Debates persist. In 2005, the IARC and WHO found slight increases in breast, cervical, and liver cancer risks but confirmed protection against ovarian and endometrial cancers.
