Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0476089 (endometrial cancer)
 11,379 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Studies show that OCs have several benefits besides prevention of pregnancy. They protect against ovarian and endometrial cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ectopic pregnancy. OCs also prevent iron deficiency anemia, primary dysmenorrhea, functional ovarian cysts, and benign breast disease. They may even protect against some benign uterine tumors, osteoporosis, toxic shock syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis. Despite many concerns, some large studies have not identified an overall effect of OCs on breast cancer, but subgroup analyses showed increased risk in 30-34 year old women and in women with 1 child. A reanalysis of a large US study indicated an increase risk of breast cancer in nulliparous women with increasing use of OCs by young women. Cervical cancer is the leading cancer of women in developing countries which emphasizes the need to examine the link between OC use and cervical cancer. Several studies show an increased risk of cervical cancer. Several studies show an increased risk of cervical cancer in long term OC users. In 1 study, long term use meant 5 years. Yet these studies did not adequately address confounding factors such as smoking and sexual behavior. 3 case control studies in the US and the UK found an increased risk of liver cancer among OC users, yet a large case control study in developing countries did not find a link between OC use and liver cancer. Studies of high dose OCs found considerable increased risks of cardiovascular disease in OC users, but they did not take into account cigarette smoking which indeed increases the risk. Further health practitioners today do a more thorough job of identifying underlying medical problems before prescribing OCs. Moreover estrogen doses have fallen 10 fold since the original OCs. Finally, despite a transient delay, women who take OCs experience a return to fertility at the same rate as those who use other contraceptives.
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PMID:The safety of oral contraceptives: epidemiologic insights from the first 30 years. 160 84

This review on the risks and benefits of oral contraceptives clarifies the risks and misperceptions, and discusses 10 potential health benefits. In the U.S. where maternal mortality is about 20.6/100,000, the risk of death from pills ranges from 1.8 for nonsmokers to 6.5 for smokers. It is likely that most of the small existing mortality risk of pill use is due to thromboembolism. Atherosclerosis, the major cause of death for U.S. women, may be reduced by the pill. It is still controversial whether pills increase risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and malignant melanoma; they protect against endometrial cancer (the 3rd greatest cancer killer) and ovarian (the 4th) cancer; they may increase risk slightly in some subgroups for breast and cervical cancer, although data are conflicting. Pills also protect against ectopic pregnancy, benign breast disease, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cysts, iron deficiency anemia and possibly uterine fibroids and osteoporosis. It is no longer held that orals protect against toxic shock syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis. It is estimated that oral contraceptives avert 50,000 hospital admissions per year in the U.S.
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PMID:The health effects of oral contraceptives: misperceptions, controversies, and continuing good news. 266 76

The benefits of combined oral contraceptives are put into perspective, considering their effectiveness as a contraceptive, actual risks for breast, ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancer, and effects of reproductive and other body systems. Combined oral contraceptives are the best contraceptives available except for injectable progestogens, therefore they an reduce the risk of maternal mortality by at least 5 in nonsmoking western women, or over 100 in developing countries. No data are available on mortality risk of the presumed safer low-dose pills. Pills reduce ectopic pregnancy to virtually nil. They decrease the risk of endometrial cancer, and of ovarian cancer for up to 15 years after use. Although they protect against benign breast disease, both fibrocystic disease and fibroadenoma, which are risk factors for breast cancer, it is unsettled whether pills affect breast cancer incidence. Cervical cancer risk may be slightly higher. Functional ovarian cysts requiring surgery are cut about 10-fold; corpus luteum and follicular cysts are also reduced. Fibroids are decreased in proportion to duration of use. Pelvic inflammatory disease rates fall 50% during use. Chlamydial infections have not fallen in pill users, but it is not known whether sexual activity is a factor. Combined pills cut abnormal uterine bleeding by about half, reduce the incidence of iron deficiency anemia and of premenstrual tension. Seizures related to menses also are controlled. Some studies find a reduction in rheumatoid arthritis. Most of the cardiovascular complications of pills are thought to be dose related. Since today's pills contain approximately the same dose as a whole cycle of the original pills, it is expected that these risks will be greatly reduced, especially with better screening of candidates that is now the rule.
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PMID:The benefits of combined oral contraceptives. 269 95

The new generation of oral contraceptives (OCs) contains less than 50 mcg of estrogen compared to previous levels of 100-150 mcg, and as a result have fewer undesirable side effects. In addition, it appears that the newer OCs decrease the susceptibility to many diseases. For example, the pill decreases by 40% the risk that a woman under 55 years of age will develop ovarian cancer. The risk of endometrial cancer is reduced by 50% in OC users. The pill also significantly lowers the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease--a condition that is involved in almost 20% of all gynecologic problems and is a leading cause of infertility. OC use reduces the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Further, by decreasing menstrual blood flow, the pill protects against iron-deficiency anemia. The pill is claimed to decrease premenstrual tension, menstrual cramps, and even acne. It has a protective effect against ovarian cysts and benign breast cancer. Finally, there is the possibility that OCs protect against the development of rheumatoid arthritis and duodenal ulcers.
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PMID:Oral contraceptives come of age. 385 23

Although the adverse effects of oral contraceptives (OCs) should be given serious consideration, the many beneficial effects of OC use should also receive recognition. The main advantage of the pill is its effectiveness as a method of reversible fertility control, enabling women to be free of the fear of unwanted pregnancy and its psychological, social, and physical implications. In addition, however, there are numerous noncontraceptive advantages. Many symptoms related to ovulation and menstruation, such as dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, irregular menses, menorrhagia, and ovulation pain, disappear or are greatly reduced through OC use, especially in young women. Endometriosis and functional ovarian cysts are less common in OC users, and the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease in OC users is about half that in nonusers of contraception. The reduced menstrual blood loss resulting from OC use cuts the risk of iron deficiency anemia by 50%. In addition, the pill has a protective effect against benign breast disease and appears to reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer. Other beneficial effects include a reduction in the rate of thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and possibly duodenal ulcers.
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PMID:The benefits of oral contraceptives. 392 18

The usefulness of oral contraceptives (OCs) has been fully reappraised in recent years, and numerous beneficial effects on general health have been demonstrated over and above contraceptive action. Examination of several prospective and retrospective epidemiological studies has pointed to a reduced incidence of ovarian functional cysts and ovarian carcinoma in women taking OCs. Dysmenorrhea and premenstrual tension are also diminished while the risk of iron-deficiency anemia is decreased by 50% owing to a reduction in menstrual flow. There is approximately a 50% reduction in endometrial carcinoma risk, coupled with a significant reduction in the incidence of benign breast diseases. OCs also offer protection against rheumatoid arthritis and pelvic inflammation. Lastly, it is pointed that fears concerning augmented risk for cardiovascular disease while on OCs have proven to be false alarms. (author's modified)
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PMID:[Positive effects of oral contraceptives]. 668 43

A review of prospective and retrospective epidemiologic studies of oral contraceptives (OCs) shows that in addition to pregnancy prevention, OCs provide other health benefits resulting from the antiestrogenic action of the progestin in the pills and from its main action, inhibition of ovulation. The antiestrogenic effects include reduction of risk of iron deficiency anemia by about 50% because of reduced menstrual blood loss. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) study reports that OCs protect about 7 of 1000 pill users/year from iron deficiency anemia, and that OC use significantly reduces the incidence of menstrual disorders (menorrhagia, irregular menses, intermenstrual bleeding). Other studies report elimination of endometrial hyperplasia (Sturdee et al.), 50% reduction in risk of endometrial cancer (Weiss and Sayvetz, Boston University Epidemiologic Survey), and reduction in incidence of benign breast diseases (at least 12 published studies). The noncontraceptive benefits resulting from inhibition of ovulation include significant reduction in the incidences of dysmenorrhea (RCGP study), functional ovarian cysts (RCGP study, Boston Collaborative Surveillance Program, Ory), and ovarian cancer (Beral et al., Casagrande et al.) OCs are also found to protect against rheumatoid arthritis (RCGP, Rochester Epidemiologic Project), and salpingitis or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). 6 epidemiologic studies show that the relative risk of developing PID among pill users compared with nonusers ranges from 0.3 - 0.9. Increased OC use by the population at greatest risk--sexually active women between 15-24 years old--would significantly reduce PID with its high cost of treatment and resulting infertility. It is hoped that healthy young women will realize that OCs provide benefits (including prevention of unwanted pregnancy) that far outweigh their more widely publicized, infrequent risks.
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PMID:Noncontraceptive health benefits of oral steroidal contraceptives. 706 59

Studies have documented the protective effects of oral contraceptives (OCs) against 5 diseases: 1) OCs prevent 50-75% of potential cases of benign breast disease; there is an estimated annual reduction of 235 hospitalized cases for every 100,000 U.S. women using OCs or about 20,000 hospitalizations each year. 2)OCs reduce the occurrence of retention cysts of the ovary; an estimated 3000 surgical procedures for ovarian cysts are prevented each year in the U.S. 3) OC users have approximately 45% less iron-deficiency anemia than nonusers due to less menstrual flow. 4) OCs protect against the development of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID); 600 of every 100,000 OC users are prevented from contracting a 1st episode of PID and 156 PID hospitalizations are averted for every 100,000 OC users annually. 5) OCs protect against ectopic pregnancy; approximately 120 hospitalizations/100,000 users are prevented annually. 3 additional diseases may be prevented by OCs, although the evidence is not as conclusive as for the 5 previously discussed; OC users are only 1/2 as likely to develop: 1) rheumatoid arthritis, 2) endometrial cancer, and 3) ovarian cancer as nonusers. OCs have also been shown to reduce the incidence of such disorders as excessive menstrual bleeding, irregular menses, intermenstrual bleeding, painful menstruation, and premenstrual tension.
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PMID:The noncontraceptive health benefits from oral contraceptive use. 711 6

During the 20 years since the oral contraceptive was introduced, it has been used by some 150 million women around the world, and is perhaps the most carefully monitored medication in history. This vast body of research shows that for the overwhelming majority of healthy women under 30, the benefits of the pill continue to outweigh the risks. The most serious life threatening risks are those involving the cardiovascular system: heart attack, stroke, and throboembolism. However, deaths from these causes would be reduced by 1/2 if women using the pill did not smoke; further reductions would result if women with high blood pressure, high chloresterol levels and diabetes millitus did not use the pill. There is no evidence thus far to justify fears that the pill might be associated with an increased risk of cancer. Most studies show that not only is there no association between pill use and cancer of the ovaries, uterus and breast, but pill use may protect against ovarian and endometrial cancer. Women taking the pill are 1/4 as likely to develop benign breast lumps as nonusers, 1/14 as likely to develop ovarian cysts, 2/3 as likely to develop iron deficiency anemia, and 1/2 as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis -- all relatively common conditions. In addition, pelvic inflammatory disease, a major cause of infertility, appears to occur only 1/2 as often among pill users as among nonusers. The risk to life among pill users younger than 30 who do not smoke is very small (virtually the same as that of users of the IUD, diaphragm, or condom) and is much lower than the risk of birth-related deaths among women who use no birth control.
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PMID:The pill at 20: an assessment. 720 90

Dr. David Grimes, professor and vice-chair of the Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California at San Francisco, spoke to the American Medical Association's Thirteenth Annual Science Reporters Conference in Seattle on November 7, concerning the health benefits of taking oral contraceptives. The risk of getting ovarian cancer decreases the longer the pill is used; this protection lasts at least 15 years after use has ended. Women who take the pill for a decade or longer reduce their risk of developing this cancer by 80%. The pill reduces the risk of endometrial cancer by as much as 50%; the protection is strongest in those at highest risk and lasts at least 15 years after use. The pill cuts the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease in half. The danger of ectopic or tubal pregnancy is reduced by 90%. By reducing menstrual flows, oral contraceptives increase the quality of life for women and reduce the risk of iron deficiency anemia. The progestin present in oral contraceptives substantially reduces the risk of benign breast disease. Oral contraceptives may protect against toxic shock syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis. A Gallup poll conducted in 1985 and early this year indicates gross misinformation and confusion about the pill among American women. While the pill should not be "pushed" on women by physicians, patients should be educated about the beneficial effects of taking the pill.
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PMID:Report: the pill's health benefits appear to far outweigh its risks. 789 51


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