Aberdeen study claims ‘pill could prolong life’

TAKING the pill does not heighten the risk of a woman dying – and could actually prolong her life, Aberdeen scientists have discovered.

The results of a University of Aberdeen study on more than 46,000 women over 39 years revealed those who had taken the contraceptive pill were less likely to die from any cause, including all types of cancer and heart disease.

There was a slightly higher risk of dying in women aged under 45 who were current or recent users of the pill.

The effects in younger women were also mainly seen in those who smoked, had high blood pressure or were otherwise at risk of heart disease.

Researchers said the study should reassure women they could safely use the pill for long periods.

And Professor Philip Hannaford of the University of Aberdeen, who led the research, said: “Our best estimate is that if you took a group of 100,000 women and they used the pill for a year, on average you would have 52 fewer deaths in those women compared to those using other forms of contraception.”

About three million women in Britain use the pill, suggesting about 1,500 deaths could be prevented each year in the long-term, he added.

More research will be carried out, to monitor the health of the women in the study as they grow older and to examine the effects of modern, low-dose contraceptives.

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