Australia (Commonwealth Union) – Pregnancy and breast feeding have been linked to numerous health benefits such as reducing the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, while a study conducted by Monash University has revealed that pregnancy can delay multiple sclerosis by over three years.
A new study conducted by the University of Queensland (UQ) has demonstrated that having more babies brings down a woman’s risk of endometrial cancer.
Dr Gunn-Helen Moen and Shannon D’Urso from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience evaluated risks for endometrial cancer applying genetic analysis, found that having three babies compared to none could reduce a woman’s risk by 50%. Dr Moen stated that they saw that the more time a woman spent pregnant or on the contraceptive pill, when the body faces less estrogen, saw a reduced risk of endometrial cancer. “While previous studies have shown multiple pregnancies and using the oral contraceptive pill can reduce the risk of endometrial cancer, this is the first study that used genetics to study multiple risk factors at once,” she said.
The genetic analysis from the UQ researchers evaluated the number of years women ovulated, which was calculated by subtracting pregnancy duration or using the contraceptive pill from the years spent menstruating. Researchers saw evidence that pointed out that less years ovulating may lower the risk of endometrial cancer, but the highest association pointed to child birth.
Endometrial cancer cases are rising globally, and Dr Moen indicated this may be a result of rising Body Mass Index levels, accounting for roughly 40% of endometrial cancer cases in developed countries. “This study is the first time we’ve been able to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the number of births and a reduced risk of developing endometrial cancer,” she said.
However, the researchers were not certain if the same was true for years ovulating and taking oral contraceptive pill to which, they stated more research was needed.
