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Does the pill prevent arthritis? New study suggests a link – Telegraph.co.uk

August 19th, 2017 7:43 am

Over time, rheumatoid arthritis can damage the joints themselves as well as the nearby cartilage.

There is no cure for the condition, however the symptoms can be treated using medication and supportive therapies such as physiotherapy.

In this large population-based study, we were able to address these questions more thoroughly than has been possible before, the researchers wrote.

Using the Pill for more than seven years - the average length of use among the study participants - was associated with a 19 per cent lower risk of developing arthritis.

Further research is required to explore the biological mechanisms behind our findings.

The oral contraceptive pill contains artificial versions of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which women produce naturally to prevent the ovary releasing an egg.

Pill usage declines steeply with age, from two-thirds of women aged 20 to 24, to 11 per cent of women in their late 40s.

There is no upper age limit beyond which healthy women should not take the pill, however those who smoke are advised not to take it above 35, according to the Family Planning Association, a sexual health charity.

Published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, the study also sought to identify whether breastfeeding was associated with a lower risk of arthritis, as had been suspected, however no significant link was found.

Continued here:
Does the pill prevent arthritis? New study suggests a link - Telegraph.co.uk

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