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Although reduced risk for epithelial ovarian cancer is well established in women who have used oral contraceptives (OCs; Lancet 2008; 371:303), better quantification of this association, especially with respect to timing of OC use, is of interest to women and clinicians alike.
In a meta-analysis of 24 case-control and cohort studies published from January 2000 to June 2012, researchers found that ever-use of OCs was associated with a statistically significant 27% reduction in risk for ovarian cancer. Based on estimates of lifetime ovarian cancer risk (1.4%), lifetime prevalence of OC use (83%), and mean duration of exposure (4.5 years), this suggests a lifetime absolute reduction in ovarian cancer attributable to OC use of approximately 0.5%…