In a Thai study, women with ovarian cancer were less likely than women without the disease to have ever used DMPA.
Lactation and oral contraceptive use have both been associated with lower rates of ovarian cancer, presumably due to suppression of ovulation. Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) suppresses ovulation and has been widely used in Thailand for decades. Thai investigators designed a multicenter study to compare rates of DMPA use among 330 women with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and 982 women in a matched comparison group without EOC.
DMPA use was reported by 18% of cases and 26% of women without EOC. After adjusting for other factors correlated with EOC (parity, breast-feeding, use of oral contraceptives, and family history of gynecologic cancer), ever use of DMPA was associated with approximately half the risk for EOC. The longer DMPA w…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardPlanned Parenthood Federation of America
Grant/Research SupportSociety of Family Planning; California Department of Public Health Tobacco Control Program
Editorial BoardsContraception; Journal of General Internal Medicine
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCouncil Member, Society of General Internal Medicine
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardPlanned Parenthood Federation of America
Grant/Research SupportSociety of Family Planning; California Department of Public Health Tobacco Control Program
Editorial BoardsContraception; Journal of General Internal Medicine
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCouncil Member, Society of General Internal Medicine