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Query: UMLS:C0476089 (endometrial cancer)
 11,379 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The objectives of this article on epidemiological studies of health risks from oral contraceptives (OCs) is to review major studies of the association between OCs and circulatory disease and cancer. It is also to emphasize methodologic limitations of the existing data, and to identify unresolved and important questions. A brief discourse on the nature and imputation of relative risk is provided. Cardiovascular diseases covered include ischemic heart disease, stroke, and thromboembolism. Current studies on low dose pills from 3 large US populations reveal that there is no impact of death from use of OCs. A Great Britain and the Walnut Creek study from the US found a slight but not statistically significant increase in ischemic heart disease. These studies also found a statistically significant 3-fold increase in stroke among OC users and, from another study, a 2-fold increase. These studies were based on high levels of ethinyl estradiol where the risk becomes apparent. The risk for idiopathic venous thromboembolism was 3- 8 fold for current OC users. The accuracy of these findings is questioned when the data reflect such heterogeneity. Cancer is differentiated as breast cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, malignant melanoma, and hepatocellular adenoma. For breast cancer, both case control studies as well as cohort studies found no increase in breast cancer. Future additional research will continue to explore unanswered questions about this association. Beneficial effects of OCs occur for endometrial cancer for as long as 15 years after taking the pill. Only 1 year's use resulted in a 50% reduction in risk of endometrial cancer regardless of pill dose and particularly for nulliparous women, who have an increased risk. The longer duration of use of the OCs results in a protective effect against ovarian cancer, i.e., 5 years of use yields as relative risk of below 0.5 and the results of a protective effect can be seen as early as 3 months after pill use. There is about 40% protection against ovarian cancer even with low dose pills; the effect lasts 15 years after cessation of OC use. Cervical cancer studies have shown mixed results. The human papilloma viruses 16 and 18 have been shown to be related to cervical cancer but further research is needed to identify the association with OCs. Data are inconclusive but lean in the direction of no association with malignant melanoma. Hepatocellular adenoma has not been identified in large vital statistics studies, although several small studies have suggested an increased risk. It has been shown by Fortney et al. that with a 50% increase in cervical cancer risk and a 3-4 fold increase in cardiovascular disease risk that OC use for 5 years before the age of 30 years adds 4 days to a health women's life.
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PMID:Results of oral contraceptive epidemiologic studies regarding neoplastic and cardiovascular effects. 257 54

This article reports on an advisory committee of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which recommended the removal of age limits on the use of oral contraceptives by healthy nonsmoking women. The factors that weighed on this "judgement call" which is unusual for the FDA were: previous studies that set an upper age limit for nonsmoking women of 40 years were done in the mid-1970's with high dose oral contraceptives which are a much higher health risk than today's low dose pills; women older than 40 often choose sterilization and the committee felt that their decision was affected by the lack of highly effective alternatives; the ability to conceive is a very real possibility for women 35-49 (e.g. 86% for women age 35-39, 78% for ages 40-44, and 69% for ages 45-49), and pregnancy for this age group is believed to be much more dangerous than the low dose pill's health risk. The committee did consider evidence of the pill's implications in increasing breast cancer and cervical cancer but found the data inconclusive or not an added health burden when considering the potential health benefits of a lowered risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer. The FDA committee urges further research on the risks and benefits or oral contraception. The evidence of increased risk of cardiovascular disease from pill use among smoking women, especially those over 40, was incontrovertible and the committee adhered to an upper age limit of 35 years for using oral contraceptives for smoking women.
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PMID:Reconsidering the age limits on pill use. 262 Jul 20

As America ages the menopausal woman is emerging as a principal focus in the health care system. Research efforts continue to define the mechanism for vasomotor instability, osteoporosis, and new and improved methods of estrogen administration. Though attenuation of symptoms of hot flushes, urogenital atrophy, and prevention of osteoporosis can be accomplished by judicious estrogen replacement therapy, the attendant risk of endometrial cancer can be minimized by concurrent administration of progestogen. Gallbladder disease must be considered as an additional risk. Surveillance for early detection of breast cancer is an integral part of care for the climacteric woman. Of greatest concern and potentially greatest impact is the evolution of data endorsing estrogen replacement as a preventive measure against cardiovascular disease. With the goal of maximizing the quality of the last third of each woman's life, individual assessment of signs and symptoms of the climacteric and, if indicated, prescription for a tailored hormone replacement schedule remain the mainstay of care.
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PMID:Menopause and estrogen replacement therapy. 265 4

Most patients who have a change in menstruation can be evaluated and treated on the basis of a brief history, a physical examination, and a few laboratory tests. Because menstrual dysfunction can cause worry and inconvenience, patients should be promptly treated. Pregnancy must be excluded as a cause of amenorrhea in the initial evaluation. Other possible causes that must be ruled out include hypothalamic or pituitary tumors and severe thyroid disease. Amenorrhea should be treated to avoid possible complications such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and uterine or endometrial cancer. Treatment methods depend on whether the lack of menstruation is caused by an excessive estrogen level or estrogen deficiency.
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PMID:Solving the mystery of menstrual dysfunction. 265 5

Due to the increasingly elderly population of the United States, it was elected to review the experience at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in treating women older than 75 years of age for gynecologic cancer. The charts of 114 patients were reviewed to study the presentation of primary cancers, the morbidity and mortality associated with therapies, and patient survival. Cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were the most common associated medical problems. 36% of patients had endometrial cancer, 25% cervical cancer, 19% vulvar cancer, 12% ovarian cancer and 7% vaginal cancers. Compared to data for patients of all ages in Annual Report on the Results of Treatment in Gynecologic Cancer (Vol. 18), patients with endometrial, cervical, and vulvar cancers were of a significantly more advanced stage than expected. Therapy was modified due to patient age or medical status in 42 patients. No postoperative mortality was encountered, although patients often required multiple prolonged hospitalizations. The projected overall survival rate (Kaplan-Meier Analysis) was 44% at 5 years. It is concluded that despite their advanced age and associated medical problems, very elderly patients can usually receive definitive cancer therapies, including surgery, after careful preoperative medical evaluation and therapy.
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PMID:Gynecologic cancer in the very elderly. 290 49

This review briefly outlines the pharmacology of natural and synthetic estrogens, and synthetic progestins, and summarizes their beneficial and adverse effects for contraceptive and menopausal therapy. Currently, oral contraceptives contain 30-50 mc synthetic estrogen, and 1-5 mg nor-progestin; menopausal therapy may be either 0.625-1.25 mg natural estrogen or estrogen plus 10 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate daily if the woman has her uterus. The biologic effects of estrogens are : decrease in lipoproteins, increased blood coagulation factors, increased blood pressure, decreased glucose tolerance. Progestins increase blood lipids and increase insulin and glucose. Oral contraceptives increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly in smokers and in women over 35, in proportion to dose. These studies should be recapitulated in more detail with the newer low-dose pills. Orals have far more beneficial effects, besides providing an inexpensive, effective method contraception. The death rate of users of oral contraceptives is 3.7/100,000 (1.8 in nonsmokers and 6.5 in smokers), but the risk is 5.5 times higher in nonusers exposed to pregnancy and childbirth. The risk for users of barrier methods backed up by abortion is lower, but pills are cheaper and more acceptable. If woman did not take oral contraceptives, they would not be protected from cancer of the breast, ovary, endometrium, and ovarian and breast cysts. Menopausal therapy puts woman at increased risk of endometrial cancer only if the estrogen is taken alone, not if progestin is combined with the estrogen. There are no other adverse effects except decreased glucose tolerance and possible comprise of lipoproteins if a norprogestin of menopausal estrogens effectively treat hot flashes, depression, vaginal atrophy and bones loss.
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PMID:The adverse effects of hormonal therapy. 351 31

For healthy women under 25 years of age, the benefits of oral contraceptive (OC) use far outweigh the risks. Because the agents protect against such life-threatening conditions as ovarian and endometrial cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ectopic pregnancy, the number of deaths they prevent is larger than the number they cause. For nonsmokers up to age 40, OCs may offer more benefits than other available fertility-control methods, although for smokers 35 years of age or older, the risks of OC use outweigh the benefits. When risk factors for cardiovascular disease are taken into account in selecting OC users and when an appropriate agent is chosen, the likelihood of a cardiovascular accident is greatly reduced. The formulations containing low-dose estrogen and low-dose, low-potency progestins appear to be safest, as they have fewer adverse effects on serum lipids and lipoproteins.
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PMID:Oral contraceptives. The benefits and the cardiovascular risks. 354 7

The female hormone estrogen is widely prescribed to postmenopausal women. Its major documented benefit is prevention of bone mineral loss, which is a major risk factor for fracture in the elderly. Its clearly documented risk is promotion of cancer of the endometrium. There is a growing body of data that suggests that postmenopausal estrogen therapy reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. This benefit, if real, may be lost when a cyclic progestin is added to reduce the risk of cancer. Further studies are needed to provide a firmer basis for balancing these risks and benefits.
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PMID:Postmenopausal estrogen, cancer and other considerations. 356 98

Prescription of oral contraceptives is reviewed by giving practical tips on the absolute contraindications, timing of the first dose, dose of estrogen, choice of type of progestin, reasons for changing the combination, and a list of benefits of oral contraceptives. The major risk in taking orals is cardiovascular disease, but actual risks are clustered in subsets of women. Those at high risk are women over 45, smokers over 35, and smokers of any age with cardiovascular risk factors. Generally women should start with a 30 or 35 mcg estrogen combined pill, and perhaps consider taking a higher estrogen dose if they experience breakthrough bleeding or amenorrhea. The 1st cycle can be started at any time up to 6 days after Cycle Day 1 or after spontaneous or induced abortion. Women taking bromocriptine should also begin contraception soon after delivery. Signs of potential major complications are abdominal pain, chest pain or dyspnea, headache or neurologic symptoms, visual or speech problems, or leg pain or weakness. Benefits of oral contraception include menstrual regulation, decreased menstrual flow, prevention of functional ovarian cysts, protection against ovarian and endometrial cancer by half, against benign breast disease, and possibly against pelvic inflammatory disease.
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PMID:Oral contraceptives. Who, which, when, and why? 362 38

During the late 1970s, there was a dramatic reduction in postmenopausal estrogen use in the United States, which may have reflected concern over a well-publicized postmenopausal estrogen-endometrial cancer link. The authors studied 310 postmenopausal women in a defined population over the period 1974-1981 to evaluate whether hysterectomy and certain other characteristics predicted change in postmenopausal estrogen use status during this period and, as a secondary issue, whether women who subsequently began postmenopausal estrogen use had different characteristics prior to use, an important question in the evaluation of the relation of postmenopausal estrogen use to morbidity and mortality from cancer, cardiovascular disease, or other diseases in observational studies. The only strong predictor of whether postmenopausal estrogen use would be discontinued was the presence of an intact uterus. Women who discontinued postmenopausal estrogen use were also somewhat older and heavier than those who continued, but were otherwise quite similar on a wide range of variables, including risk factors for and the presence of various chronic diseases. Similarly, the absence of a uterus was the only strong predictor of the initiation of postmenopausal estrogen use. Thus, concern about a possible postmenopausal estrogen-endometrial cancer link appeared to have been the major determinant of change in postmenopausal estrogen use in this time period. In the secondary analysis, variables other than hysterectomy did not discriminate between women who initiated postmenopausal estrogen use versus those who did not report use of postmenopausal estrogens, suggesting that a broad range of other characteristics was not a priori different in these two groups.
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PMID:Correlates of change in postmenopausal estrogen use in a population-based study. 372 43


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