Decreased risk of endometrial cancer among oral-contraceptive users

N Engl J Med. 1980 Oct 30;303(18):1045-7. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198010303031807.

Abstract

PIP: A case-control study was carried out to assess the effects of OC (oral contraceptive) usage on the risk of endometrial cancer. The cases were chosen from an ongoing case-control surveillance program at the Drug Epidemiology Unit of Boston University Medical Center. 154 women with a diagnosis of endometrial cancer were compared with 525 controls as to OC usage. 1% of the cases and 2% of the controls had used sequential OCs, numbers too small for inclusion in the study. 6% of the cases and 13% of the controls had used combination OCs. The relative risk of developing endometrial cancer was found to be only .5 for women who had used combination OCs. This halved risk rate falls to .3 for use that lasted for 3 or more years. There was no evidence that the time of last use affected the reduced risk factor; i.e., the reduced risk appeared to persist for at least 5 years after discontinuation of OC use. This protection against endometrial cancer offered by combined OC use may begin to show up in incidence rates for the disease soon if the protective effect does indeed remain after usage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / epidemiology*
  • Contraceptives, Oral / pharmacology*
  • Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / pharmacology
  • Contraceptives, Oral, Sequential / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk
  • Time Factors
  • Uterine Neoplasms / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Contraceptives, Oral
  • Contraceptives, Oral, Combined
  • Contraceptives, Oral, Sequential