So, The Pill Helps You Live Longer?!
When you pop your daily contraceptive pill, you may have one thing on the brain: to not get preggo. Some other pleasant side effects may include enlarged breasts, clearing of acne, and, oh yeah, living a longer life... Wait, what?
Recent research published in the Annals of Oncology suggests that the death rate from ovarian cancer has leveled off since the 90s. World Health Organization data calculated death rates from ovarian cancer between 1970 and 2012, finding that in the last decade of that range, 2002-2012, deaths decreased by 10% in the E.U. and 16% respectively, in the United States. The lucky culprit we can credit this shift to? The introduction of the pill. The National Cancer Institute agrees that this correlation does equal causation, and is in fact, accurate.
The most prominent decline in ovarian cancer deaths was seen in young women aged 20-49, and is estimated to continue to have an impact as the use of oral contraceptives becomes more widespread. Researchers suggest that as soon as 2020 we can expect the ovarian cancer death toll in the U.S. to decline another 15%, and 10% in Europe. That's a 31% decrease in the U.S. and 20% decease in Europe in less than two decades.
You may still be wondering, "okay, so scientists have discovered a pretty solid correlation linking taking birth control pills to reduced mortality rates, but how?" That's a question that's still up for debate. If you're not already on the pill, or don't need to take birth control pills for any purpose, you don't necessarily need to start based on these findings. Reasons for taking birth control pills include but are not limited to: reducing your risk of pregnancy, clearer skin, endometriosis or simply, for a more reliable visit from aunt flow.
However, if you come from a family with a history of ovarian cancer, this may be welcome news to you, and there isn't harm in getting on the pill for your health's sake. If you're reading this and thinking, "but I'm already on the pill," then lucky you, pop one daily, live long, and prosper, at least partially thanks to that monthly cycle pack.
