Intrauterine device use and risk of ovarian cancer: Results from the New England Case‐Control study and Nurses' Health Studies. Issue 1 (17th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Jiaxi; Sasamoto, Naoko; Babic, Ana; Vitonis, Allison F.; Townsend, Mary K.; Titus, Linda; Cramer, Daniel W.; Tworoger, Shelley S.; Terry, Kathryn L.
• Is Part Of: International journal of cancer. Volume 149:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 75
• Page End: 83
• Publication Date: 2021-03-17
• Subjects: cancer prevention -- nonhormonal intrauterine device use -- ovarian cancer risk; Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Prevention -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33531
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7136

Abstract

Abstract: Results of studies assessing intrauterine device (IUD) use and ovarian cancer risk are inconsistent. We examined the association between IUD use, including duration, type and timing of use, and ovarian cancer risk using three population‐based studies. Data from the New England Case‐Control Study (NEC) and two prospective cohort studies, the Nurses' Health Studies (NHS/NHSII), were included in the analysis. Information on IUD use was collected by in‐person interview in NEC and by biennial questionnaire in NHS/NHSII. We used unconditional logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in NEC and Cox regression to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CI in NHS/NHSII. We used meta‐analysis to combine the NEC and the pooled NHS/NHSII results. Overall, IUD use was not associated with epithelial ovarian cancer risk (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.81‐1.14 in NEC; HR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.69‐1.15 in NHS/NHSII; combined RR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.81‐1.08). Among IUD users, older age at first use was associated with increased ovarian cancer risk ( P ‐trend = .03). We did not observe significant associations by IUD type or duration of use. In conclusion, IUD use was not associated with ovarian cancer risk in our study. Abstract : What's new? Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are an effective and reversible form of contraception for women. The association between IUD use and ovarian cancer risk, however, remains uncertain. Here, using data from three U.S. population‐based studies, IUD use, including duration, type, and timing of first use, was examined in the context of ovarian cancer risk. Overall, no significant association was detected between IUD use and risk of ovarian cancer. Risk was increased, however, in association with older age at first use. Additional research is needed to confirm these findings in diverse populations and to evaluate relationships between ovarian cancer and hormonal IUD use.