Contraceptive pill can protect women from rheumatoid arthritis in the long term

How does the risk of rheumatoid arthritis affect women taking the pill??
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic arthritis lasting several weeks. In Germany alone, around 800,000 people suffer from this disease. Researchers now found that taking certain contraceptives can reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

The scientists of the Institute of Environmental Medicine in Stockholm found in their study that oral contraceptives can protect against the development of rheumatoid arthritis. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases".

The so-called contraceptive pill is actually taken to protect against an unwanted pregnancy. Doctors noted that taking the pill can also protect against rheumatoid arthritis. (Image: Wolfilser / fotolia.com)

Taking the pill for more than seven years reduced the risk by 19 percent
Participants who took oral contraceptives for at least seven consecutive years, colloquially referred to as birth control pills, reduced the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis by 19 percent, the experts said.

Researchers found no significant association between breastfeeding and rheumatoid arthritis
The use of oral contraceptives offers women a protective effect against rheumatoid arthritis. In the past, nursing children has also been associated with a protective effect against rheumatoid arthritis. However, the researchers found no significant link between breastfeeding and rheumatoid arthritis.

Women are much more likely to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis
In women, rheumatoid arthritis is two to three times more common compared to men. This difference between the sexes could be partly explained by reproductive factors, the scientists speculate.

Physicians examined more than 6,500 women for their study
For their study, the researchers examined data from more than 2,500 women with rheumatoid arthritis. For comparison, 4,100 women without the disease who were the same age were also examined.

Blood of the participants was examined for ACPA antibodies
The physicians took blood samples from all participants to look for so-called ACPA antibodies, which are strongly associated with rheumatoid arthritis. The women were also asked about their contraceptive techniques and reproductive history. Nine out of ten people tested positive for ACPA antibodies suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. The presence of these antibodies may therefore indicate a serious illness, the researchers explain.

Effects of taking the pill on the risk of rheumatoid arthritis
The results of the study suggest that women who have used an oral contraceptive in the past generally have a lower risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis compared to women who never took the pill. The risk was reduced by 15 percent when women were currently taking oral contraceptives. When women in the past took oral contraceptives, the risk was reduced by 13 percent, the authors explain. If the women took the pill for more than seven years, which was the average duration of use of the participants during the study, this could be linked to a 19 percent reduction in the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. (As)