Its main role is pregnancy prevention, but contraceptive pill can also help reduce the risk of ovary cancer.
A new investigation, carried out by scientists at the University of Southern Australia, allowed to discover, with the help of Artificial Intelligence (IA), that the Oral contraceptive pill reduced the risk of ovary cancer In 26% among women who already used the pill and in 43% in women who took the pill after the age of 45.
According to the study, the study also identified some biomarkers associated with the risk of the disease, namely various characteristics of red blood cells and certain blood hepatic enzymes. Lower body weight and smaller stature have shown to be associated with a lower risk of ovary cancer.
Compared to women who did not have children, those who gave birth two or more had a 39% lower risk Developing the condition, it also revealed this new study, which has great potential to help in the early diagnosis of ovary cancer.
“Ovarian cancer is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage”, Said researcher Amanda Lumsden. “Late detection contributes to a survival rate of less than 30% in five years, compared to over 90% for early ovary cancers. This is why it is so important to identify risk factors. ”
In this research, the researcher stressed, “we found that women who took the oral pill had a lower risk of developing ovary cancer.” “Those who last used the pill in their early 40s, had an even shorter level of risk,” he added.
This evidence makes scientists want to know if the interventions that reduce the number of ovulations They can be used as a target for disease prevention strategies.
Elina Hyppönen, project leader, has finally stressed that the identification of risk factors can help improve survival rates through early prevention and detection.
“It is possible that, using the pill to reduce ovulations or reducing harmful adiposity, we may decrease the risk of ovary cancer. Still, more investigations will be needed to establish the best prevention approaches, as well as the ways we can identify women at greater risk, ”he said.
The was published in January in the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer.