The Pill Cuts Womb Cancer Cases By 200,000

The Pill has helped to prevent 200,000 cases of womb cancer over the past decade alone, according to Oxford University researchers.

For every five years that a woman takes the oral contraceptive, the risk of developing endometrial cancer decreases by 25%.

In females who have taken the Pill for 10 years, rates of womb cancer diagnosis in under-75s also fall from 2.3 per 100 to just 1.3.

Professors believe the protective effects of the Pill, which includes a dose of oestrogen, last for decades after someone stops taking the contraceptive – with women in their 20s continuing to benefit when they are in their 50s.

The study estimates that in the 50 years since oral contraceptives were introduced, about 400,000 cases of womb cancer have been avoided.

Professor Valerie Beral said: "Previous research has shown that the Pill also protects against ovarian cancer.

"People used to worry that the Pill might cause cancer, but in the long-term, the Pill reduces the risk of getting cancer."

The study was published in The Lancet Oncology Journal, and funded by the Medical Research Council and Cancer Research UK.

Women are still being advised to weigh up the risks before taking the Pill – especially if they have a family history of breast cancer – as some research suggests it can slightly increase the risk of this particular disease.

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