Oral Contraceptive Use in Ovarian Cancer Prevention

Authors

Daphne Nicolas, University of LynchburgFollow

Specialty

Gynecologic Oncology

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to evaluate the efficacy of implementing oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) as a chemoprevention modality for those at risk for ovarian cancer. This clinical review examines its significance to clinical practice as an emerging prevention strategy and its potential effect on decreasing the burden of ovarian cancer in women. A comprehensive literature search of electronic databases was conducted, identifying studies with publication dates restricted to the past five years that assessed the epidemiologic statistics, proposed mechanisms of action, clinical applications, patient experience, public health implications, patient challenges, and limitations that are involved in long-term oral contraceptive pill use as a form of chemoprevention for ovarian cancer. The findings suggest that the long-term use of OCPs significantly reduces the incidence of ovarian cancer and also lowers the risk of ovarian cancer for those in the high-risk categories. However, there is a lack of recently published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies that explore the relationship between OCPs, as opposed to various forms of hormonal contraception, and ovarian cancer. These are needed to better help answer whether OCP use independently influences ovarian cancer risk. This clinical review highlights the potential to have OCP use as a standard protocol to guide preventative strategies that are aimed at reducing ovarian cancer risk in women. The possibility that a widely available, relatively low-cost pill could play a role in lowering the incidence of a gynecologic cancer with such high mortality rates is both clinically and socially significant. By shifting the focus from treatment to prevention strategies, OCP use may represent an underutilized avenue that can be implemented in the efforts to not only reduce the disease burden associated with ovarian cancer but improve patient outcomes in the future as well. Exploring this pathway invites more profound conversations about the application of evidence-based practice within the sector of women's health to effectively guide preventive medicine and restructure long-term cancer risk reduction strategies to improve patient outcomes on a worldwide scale.

Recommended Citation

Nicolas D. Oral Contraceptive Use in Ovarian Cancer Prevention. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2025; 7(3).