Table of contents:
- How the combined birth control pill works
- Birth control pills can prevent ovarian cancer, right?
- How do combination pills lower the chances of ovarian cancer?
Until now, birth control pills are still a mainstay for women to prevent pregnancy. There are two types of birth control pills available, namely mini birth control pills and combination birth control pills. Well, it has recently been discovered that combination birth control pills can lower the chances of ovarian cancer. How can?
How the combined birth control pill works
Combined birth control pills contain two hormones that are actually produced naturally in a woman's body, namely estrogen and progestin. These two hormones regulate the menstrual cycle and chances of pregnancy.
Combined birth control pills have been shown to prevent pregnancy by up to 99 percent, if used in the right way.
So, this pill works in three ways, the first is to prevent the ovaries from being released into the reproductive tract. Then the second, this pill is able to stimulate the production of mucus in the cervix so that sperm cannot reach the egg.
While the latter, birth control pills also have the ability to change the lining of the uterine wall, so that the egg, which has been fertilized by sperm, cannot grow in the uterus and ultimately no fetus will develop.
Birth control pills can prevent ovarian cancer, right?
A new study published in the BMJ Journal reports that using the latest type of birth control pill, which is lower in estrogen and higher in progestin, can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.
The study involved 1.9 million women in Denmark aged 15-49 years. At the end of the study, researchers found that the women who had the highest chances of ovarian cancer were women who had never used birth control pills at all.
Meanwhile, women who have used combination birth control pills, the risk of ovarian cancer decreased by 21 percent. Even so, this fact remains to be investigated further, because there are still many risk factors that can cause ovarian cancer.
How do combination pills lower the chances of ovarian cancer?
Experts believe this can happen due to the influence of the hormones present in combination birth control pills. One of the risk factors for ovarian cancer is the overactive ovaries producing eggs.
Well, contraceptives actually play a role in suppressing the number of eggs and making them less active. Therefore, the researchers concluded that the role of this combination birth control pill in reducing the chances of ovarian cancer.
The longer the use of birth control pills, the egg cells produced will not increase rapidly. Therefore, from the research results it is also known that the longer it is used, the more it will protect women from the risk of this cancer.
In fact, experts also mention that anything that can suppress and inhibit ovulation can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, for example breastfeeding and pregnancy.
So, don't worry first if you're not using birth control pills. If there is any doubt, you can consult a doctor.
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