Nuns should also take birth control pills because they prevent ovarian and uterine cancer, researchers say in The Lancet.
Professor Roger Short from the University of Melbourne and Dr. Kara Britt from Monash University (Australia) believe that since the contraceptive pill, thanks to the hormones it contains, prevents ovarian and uterine cancer and prolongs life, nuns should also be able to use it.
Women who have never had children have more ovulatory cycles than mothers – due to pregnancy and lactation. The more menstrual cycles, the higher the risk of cancer. Other factors that increase the total number of menstrual cycles – such as an early first menstrual period – are also associated with an increased risk of developing these cancers.
Having children reduces the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer, especially if a woman has her first child at an early age, has many children and is breastfeeding.
Overall, all-cause mortality is 12% for women taking birth control pills. lower than in women who do not use these pills, while ovarian and endometrial cancer occurs by 50-60 percent. less often if the woman was taking the pills. This effect lasts for 20 years after stopping oral contraception.
Like all drugs, birth control pills are not without side effects – for example, their estrogen-gestagen version may increase the risk of blood clots. This must be taken into account when choosing a pill.
According to the authors of the publication, taking contraceptive pills by nuns does not contradict the doctrine of the Catholic Church – because in the case of nuns it would not be a contraceptive effect, but health protection.
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