Ovarian Cancer Risk with Genital Powder Use

Studies examining whether genital powder — which often contains talc — causes ovarian cancer have been inconsistent and potentially subject to bias. Now, investigators have pooled data from four cohort studies including >250,000 women, of whom 39% reported genital powder use and 10% reported long-term use.

During a median 11 years' follow-up, 2168 participants developed ovarian cancer. Overall, risk for ovarian cancer was not statistically significantly increased in users (relative risk, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.99–1.17); however, among women with a patent reproductive tract, risk was slightly higher (RR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.01–1.26).