The contraceptive pill is still today a subject that generates many debates, between those who consider it harmful for the body or even the mind, and those who advocate it as the object of the emancipation of women. . The study conducted by Italian researchers from the University of Milan will perhaps improve the image of the pill in young women a little:according to them, it helps to reduce the number of ovarian cancers in the world (even if they note disparities between countries).
According to this study, published Tuesday, September 6, 2016 in the medical journal Annals of Oncology, taking the pill would have a direct link with the decline in ovarian cancer. It reveals that in Europe, the death rate linked to ovarian cancer fell by 10% between 2002 and 2012. In addition, it fell by 22% for the United Kingdom, 24% for Denmark and Switzerland. . In the United States, the recorded decline is estimated at 16%. Next come New Zealand and Australia with 12% and finally 8% for Canadians. Clearly, this decline is seen in many countries around the world.
However, in Japan, where taking the pill is one of the lowest in the world, there are higher rates of ovarian cancer than in Europe and the United States. This prompted Italian scientists to hypothesize that the pill would reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. Another avenue is also being considered:hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been used less and less in postmenopausal women over the past ten years. In 2002, a study revealed that HRT was likely to lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as breast and ovarian cancer (in complete opposition to what doctors were saying at the time). These results had prompted many women to stop HRT. So, which of the pill or the decline of HRT is responsible for the decrease in the number of ovarian cancers? For now, we don't know, but anyway, it's very good news!
