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Updated: Jun 23, 2025
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Collection, Isolation, and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Human Endocervical Samples
Published on: July 6, 2014
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Associations between common contraceptive use and circulating inflammatory biomarkers
Jennifer M Mongiovi1,2, Ana Babic3, Naoko Sasamoto2
1Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.
American Journal of Epidemiology
|June 19, 2024
Summary
Intrauterine device (IUD) and tubal ligation do not increase inflammation. Long-term oral contraceptive (OC) use may increase inflammation, potentially explaining waning protection against ovarian cancer.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive health
- Gynecological oncology
- Inflammation and chronic disease
Background:
- Ovarian cancer incidence has decreased, partly due to oral contraceptive (OC) and tubal ligation use.
- Intrauterine device (IUD) use is increasingly common, replacing OC use.
- Ovarian cancer is linked to inflammation, necessitating investigation into contraceptive methods' inflammatory effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between OC use, IUD use, tubal ligation, and plasma inflammatory markers.
- To assess the long-term impact of these gynecological procedures on systemic inflammation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6, and soluble tumor necrosis factor α receptor 2 levels.
- Utilized data from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and NHSII cohorts.
- Adjusted for reproductive, hormonal, lifestyle factors, and other contraceptive methods.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in inflammatory markers were found for ever versus never use of IUDs or tubal ligation.
- CRP levels decreased with time since IUD initiation (P-trend = .03).
- CRP levels increased with duration of OC use (P-trend < .0001).
Conclusions:
- IUD use and tubal ligation are not associated with elevated long-term circulating inflammatory markers.
- Prolonged OC use may be linked to increased generalized inflammation, potentially diminishing its protective effect over time.
- Findings contribute to understanding the complex relationship between gynecological interventions, inflammation, and ovarian cancer risk.
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