Oral contraceptives are medications that are primarily used to prevent unwanted pregnancy. They contain hormones – progesterone and estrogen. Taking this type of medicine can reduce the risk of certain diseases, mainly because of the change in the levels of individual hormones. 1. Reduce the risk of certain oncological diseases of the female genital organs According to a study published in Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology, long-term use of contraceptives can reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer by 50% and endometrial cancer by 70%. The reduced risk of ovarian cancer is due to the cessation of ovulation. On the other hand, the lower risk of endometrial carcinoma results from the thinning of the lining of the uterus. Despite these positives, however, oral contraceptives may increase the risk of breast and cervical cancer due to the higher levels of estrogen introduced by the medication exogenously. 2. Lower the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease Pelvic inflammatory disease is a sexually transmitted infection of the female reproductive organs. If left untreated, it can cause chronic pelvic pain or infertility. Contraceptives do not prevent sexually transmitted infections, but they may improve protection by thickening the cervical mucus. This makes it more difficult for microorganisms to travel to the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries 3. Strengthen the body’s defenses during the flu season According to a study in the American Journal of Physiology – Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, women who take oral contraceptives with estrogen have more good protection against various cold viruses, compared to others. Estrogen levels in contraceptive users lead to a reduction in the amount of influenza virus. Scientists found a significant stimulation of replication processes in infected cells – nearly 1000 times higher amounts of the virus, compared to cells that were not exposed to estrogen. Elevated estrogen levels do not have the same effect on men because their normal estrogen levels are much lower than women’s. Depending on the individual characteristics of the woman, differences in the level of protection against influenza viruses could also be observed, regardless of contraceptive use. If women are taking estrogen-like hormones for other reasons, less susceptibility to flu during flu season is an added benefit, not an indication for starting this type of medication. Therefore, taking oral contraceptives to prevent influenza is not recommended. References: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26684252/