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A comparison of annual deaths from OC related diseases for four regions
(Age-standardized to the world population)
Pattern Estimates of annual deaths from pregnancy for women 15-44 using no contraception1 "Annual deaths due to cancer per 100,000 women ages 15-64 2" "Annual deaths per 100,000" women ages 35-44 from CVD4
Ovarian Endometrial Cervical Breast3
Region Non-User* User Non-User User Non-User User Non-User User Non-User User Non-User
Western 10 2 4 0.5 1 6 3 7.5 5 4 1
LatinAmerican 140 1 2 1 2 24 12 4.5 3 16 4
Asian 265 0.5 1 0.5 1 2 1 1.5 1 4 1
African 540 0.5 1 0.5 1 22 11 1.5 1 4 1
* The mortality associated with OC failure depends on the level of failure in a population. As compliance improves and protection from pregnancy increases, mortality from method failure approaches zero.
  1. Overall mortality rates per 100,000 women were estimated from simulations of cohorts of women using no contraception and assuming no induced abortion and using published data on maternal mortality ratios (WHO, Maternal Mortality Ratios and Rates: A Tabulation of Available Information, 1991).
  2. Source of cancer mortality data is WHO Databank (special request) with the exception of Africa. Incidence data were substituted for mortality in Africa, making the assumption that cases with disease will die. Cancer mortality is age standardized to the world population for women 15-64 years of age. Source of cancer mortality data for western regions is the U.S. 1990 NCHS. It is known that the incidence of ovarian and endometrial cancer is halved by OC use; we assume mortality is also. There is much more controversy about the impact of OCs on breast and cervical cancers. We choose the most conservative estimates of risk of mortality from disease.
  3. Breast cancer mortality is given for women aged 15-44 since the risk pertains only to women taking OCs at young ages with projected risk to age 44.
  4. Cardiovascular disease mortality includes myocardial infarction and thrombotic stroke for women 15-44. Data are from the 1990 U.S. NCHS and WHO (special request).

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