For over 40 years, women have been warning about talcum powder and ovarian cancer. Although the risk varies with each woman, studies have shown that talcum powder can pass through the vagina, fallopian tubes and ovaries, increasing the risk of ovarian tumors. Despite this, the NCI has remained silent on the issue, and the FDA has also struggled with the talcum powder and ovarian cancer connection.
Researchers at Harvard University first discovered a connection between talcum powder and ovarian cancer in the 1960s. They found that some types of talcum powder contained asbestos, which caused abnormal multilayered cell growth when applied intraperitoneally to the surface of animals' ovaries. This association was later confirmed in a study of talc-containing baby powder and human ovarian cancer in 1971.
However, despite the growing scientific evidence, a study by the FDA Office of Women's Health has shown no connection between Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer In fact, the FDA has denied petitions to put a warning label on talcum powder, citing the lack of conclusive evidence to show causality. Despite the recent trials, the CDC and the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance maintain that there is no link between talcum powder and ovarian disease.
The NCI study is the largest study to date linking talc with ovarian cancer, and it used data from six thousand women in order to draw a conclusion. As it turns out, talc in talcum powder is not only irritant but also a known carcinogen. Two case-control studies published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that women who regularly use talcum powder have a 33 percent increased risk of developing ovarian cancer compared to those who don't use it.
The first study that linked talc to ovarian cancer found that 75% of the tumors contained talc particles. The study, conducted at Harvard University, also noted that women who used talcum powder regularly were at a higher risk for the disease. Despite this and other studies, the manufacturer of Johnson & Johnson's Shower-to-Shower body powder, Johnson & Company, continued to market these products, despite the risks of exposure to asbestos.
The National Institutes of Health's Women's Health Initiative, conducted a study of more than six thousand women, found a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. This is the second study to link talcum powder with ovarian cancer. While the association is not yet conclusive, it is still worth avoiding talcum powder and ovarian cancer in your life.
There are no studies on the connection between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. Some studies have found no link at all. The results of the study, however, have not yet been replicated in other studies. The risk of developing ovarian cancer in women who use talcum powder was not statistically significant. Regardless of whether talc causes ovarian cancer, the study has uncovered a link between talc and ovarian cancer.
