Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Preventive Medicine
Article Date: 12 Dec 2011 - 8:00 PST
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Compared with women who have children, Catholic nuns like any other women who do not bear children (nulliparous women) are at an increased risk of dying from ovarian, uterine, and breast cancer. According to a comment by Dr Kara Britt, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, and Professor Roger Short, University of Melbourne, Australia, published Online First by The Lancet, the contraceptive pill should be given to Catholic nuns for health reasons as they reduce overall mortality and uterine and ovarian cancer deaths, rather than as a contraceptive measure.
Women who have children have fewer ovulatory menstrual cycles than nulliparous women, due to pregnancy and lactation. More cycles increases the risk of cancer. Further factors that increase overall number of cycles and increased cancer risk are going through puberty earlier or experiencing menopause later, regardless of bearing children or not. Risk of these cancers are further reduced if women with children: have their first child at a young age breastfeed and have more children According to the researchers, investigations have demonstrated that overall mortality in women taking the pill is 12% lower than women who have never taken it. In women who use the pill the risk of developing endometrial and ovarian cancers is reduced by 50% to 60% than never-users. This protection continues for two decades and shows a clear long-term benefit. However, like any other medication, the oestrogen/progestogen pill is not risk-free as it can increase the risk of developing blood clots (venous thromboembolism). Due to this the woman's medical history should always be taken into consideration.
The researchers conclude: "The Catholic church condemns all forms of contraception, as outlined by Pope Paul VI in Humanae Vitae in 1968. Although Humanae Vitae never mentions nuns, they should be free the use the contraceptive pill to protect against the hazards of nulliparity since the document states that 'the Church in no way regards as unlawful therapeutic means considered necessary to cure organic diseases, even though they also have a contraceptive effect'. If the Catholic church could make the contraceptive pill freely available to all its nuns, it would reduce the risk of those accursed pests, cancer of the ovary and uterus, and give nuns' plight the recognition it deserves."
Written by: Grace Rattue
Copyright: Medical News Today
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MLA
21 Dec. 2011.
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