General

Women on the pill might live longer

They’re less likely to die of cancer or heart disease, study shows

According to a study of 46,000 women over almost 40 years, those who took the birth control pill were less likely to die of cancer or heart disease. The team, led by Philip Hannaford of the University of Aberdeen, followed earlier data suggesting an increased risk for women on the pill, but found it disappeared in the long term. It was one of the largest investigations into the pill’s health effects, the BBC reports, adding that Philip called it “really reassuring for women.” While the pill’s long-term effects haven’t always been clear, he told the news service that “his study, after following up a large group of women for 39 years, has shown there is no increased risk among women who have used the pill, in fact there is a small 12% drop.”

BBC News

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