(November 6, 2019) A recent research review conducted by a team at the University of Colorado Anschutz, and published this month by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that use of an intrauterine device (IUD) was associated with a lower risk of ovarian cancer.
Through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis, researchers found that, overall, women who used an IUD were 32% less likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who did not. These data show that use of any type of IUD was associated with a lower incidence of ovarian cancer, and the study notes that IUD use is associated with other benefits including “treatment of endometrial hyperplasia, abnormal uterine bleeding, adenomyosis, and endometriosis”.
“We have known through many smaller studies that IUDs may decrease the risk for the development of ovarian cancer,” said Dr. Saketh Guntupalli, senior author of the study told Reuters by email. “The current study analyzed several thousand patients which makes it the largest study of its kind.”
Every woman should consult with their doctor on which contraceptive option is right for them. You may read this study in full through Ovid, or learn about the study’s highlights as published by Reuters.
