Relationship between contraceptive use and gynecologic cancers
S.Sinan Ozalp, Omer T. Yalcin, H. Mete Tanir, and Ceren Yildiz
Eskisehir Osmangazi
University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Eskisehir, Turkey
Objective The aim of this retrospective study was to assess
the association between the contraceptive use and gynecologic cancers.
Design and methods The study group included 41 cervical cancer, 70 endometrium
cancer and 58 ovarian cancer patients. Control group consisted of 61 cases with
a diagnosis of leiomyoma uteri within a period of six years. Groups were
compared based on demographic characteristics and the last contraceptive method
used. Data were then analyzed by using SPSS 13.0 statistically package programme
(SPSS 13.0 Inc., Chicago IL, USA).
Results Mean age of cervical, endometrial
ovarian cancers and leiomyomas uteri were 53.2 years, 58.1 years, 54.9 years
and, 44.3 years, respectively. Cervical cancer patients had a similar percentage
of combined oral contraceptives (COC) and intrauterine device (IUD) use,
compared to control group. Control group had a higher percentage of condom use,
compared to cervical cancer patients (21.3%vs 4.3%, respectively; p<0.05). The least preferred contraceptive method in cervical cancer patients was found to be condom use.
Compared to ovarian cancer patients, percentage of COC use was
higher in the control group (27.6% vs 6.4%, p<0.05). However, among two groups, there was no difference detected regarding the use of IUD and condom. The least preferred contraceptive method among ovarian cancer cases was COC. There was no stastistically significant difference for IUD and condom use between endometrial cancer and control group. Proportion of condom use in endometrium cancer and the control group was 8.6% and 27.5%, respectively (p<0.05). The least preferred contraceptive method in endometrial cancer cases was condom use.
Conclusions It is well known that condom use is
protective for cervical cancer. In our study, it was found that condom use was
significantly lower in this group. COC use lowers the risk of ovarian cancer
development. In the present study, frequency of COC use was significantly low in
the ovarian cancer patients. The unexpected finding of the present study was the
infrequent use of condom among endometrial cancer patients, which needs further
evaluation.