The INFO Project Blog

In an article published today in the Lancet, Oxford University researchers report that women taking combined oral contraceptives (COCs) for 15 years halved their chances of developing ovarian cancer. Although the findings are not unexpected (we’ve known for over 20 years that COCs help protect against this disease) this study, which pools worldwide data from 45 studies, confirms that that protection begins soon after a woman starts taking COCs, and increases with increasing duration of use.

These findings are quite striking on a population scale. The researchers estimate that over the past 50 years, COCs have prevented some 200,000 cases of ovarian cancer and 100,000 deaths. What’s even more compelling, according to the researchers, is that at least 30,000 cases of ovarian cancer could eventually be prevented every year.

The Lancet sums up this new evidence with a call to expand access to this method:

“We strongly endorse more widespread over-the counter access to a preventive agent that can not only prevent cancers but also demonstrably save the lives of tens of thousands of women.”