A recent study, published in Cancer Research and reported in The New York Times, suggests that risk-reduction associated with oral contraceptive use can last a lifetime.
The link between lower ovarian and endometrial cancer risk and oral contraceptive use has long been established; however, it was unclear how long after taking oral contraceptives a woman may have reduced risk. In analyzing health data of 256,661 women born between 1939 and 1970, researchers found that those who had used oral contraceptives had a 28% reduced risk for ovarian cancer, and this reduction remained significant up to 35 years after last use.
Additionally, the study found that the increased risk of breast cancer that is associated with oral contraceptive use is small, and lasts for a shorter period of time.
Read more about the original study at Cancer Research.
