The Pill cleared of female death link
Friday March 12th, 2010
The contraceptive pill does not cause early death - and may even improve women's longevity, according to results of a major British study published today.
The finding, from 40 years of study of more than 40,000 women, will reassure millions, alarmed by earlier findings that seemed to suggest some long-term risk from taking the first generation of pills.
Early
reports from the Royal College of General Practitioners' Oral Contraception
Study had suggested there may be an increased death rate from long-term
use, mainly because of blood vessel diseases among older women and smokers.
Professor Philip Hannaford and colleagues at Aberdeen University, UK, now report on the latest findings from the study, based on 46,112 women with up to 39 years of follow-up.
On the website of the British Medical Journal, they write: "Compared with never users, ever users of oral contraception had a significantly lower rate of death from any cause. They also had significantly lower rates of death from all cancers; large bowel/rectum, uterine body, and ovarian cancer; main gynaecological cancers combined; all circulatory disease; ischaemic heart disease; and all other diseases."
They conclude that: "Oral contraception was not associated with an increased long term risk of death in this large UK cohort; indeed, a net benefit was apparent. The balance of risks and benefits, however, may vary globally, depending on patterns of oral contraception usage and background risk of disease."
Judy O'Sullivan, of the British Heart Foundation, commented: "This study will provide some reassurance for women who took the first generation of the oral contraceptive pill, that use is not associated with a higher death rate in the long-term.
"However, as with all medication the balance between the risks and benefits of the pill will vary from one woman to another. Women who wish to reduce their risk of developing heart disease should take regular physical activity, avoid smoking, maintain a healthy weight and eat a balanced diet."
Tags: Cancer | Childbirth and Pregnancy | Heart Health | UK News | Women’s Health & Gynaecology
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