New studies show birth control may prevent ovarian cancer, in addition to pregnancy. But Oxford researchers say the pill may prevent ovarian cancer as well. The study, released last week, confirmed the magnitude of oral contraceptives’ effectiveness in reducing the risk of ovarian cancer. The longer a woman takes the pill, which prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation, the greater its effectiveness in cancer protection, the report said. Mortality rates approached 70 percent in 2007, compared to 23 percent for breast cancer, according to American Cancer Association statistics. Several studies have shown that the pill is weakly associated with increased rates of breast and cervical cancer, but the majority have been inconclusive. read more

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