Oral contraceptive use is associated with a reduced risk for ovarian cancer for BRCA mutation carriers, according to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Researchers examined the correlation of various character- istics of oral contraceptive use and the risk for ovarian cancer among 3,989 BRCA1 and 2,445 BRCA2 mutation carriers. Mutation carriers who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer had less frequent use of oral contraceptives (ever use: 58.6% for BRCA1 and 53.5% for BRCA2) compared with unaffected carriers (88.9% and 80.7%, respectively). BRCA1 and BRCA2 carri- ers who developed ovarian cancer had a median duration of oral contraceptive use of 7 years com- pared with 9 and 8 years, respectively, in unaffected carriers. In univariate analyses, a longer duration of oral contraceptive use and more recent use were both associated with a reduction in the risk for ovarian cancer for BRCA1 carriers. In multivar- iate analyses, duration of oral contraceptive use was the prominent protective factor (HRs, 0.67 and 0.37 for 5-9 years and ≥10 years, respec- tively, compared with <5 years). The inverse correlation persisted for more than 15 years. Similar results were seen in univariate analyses for BRCA2 mutation carriers. “We found a clear in- verse association between oral contraceptive use and ovarian cancer risk,” the study authors wrote.
