I've heard it before: The pill protects against ovarian cancer. And here the news presents itself again, this time in the form of a study revealing birth control pills can protect women from this disease even decades after they stop taking it.

British researchers have found that women taking the pill for 15 years cut their chances of developing ovarian cancer by half. The risk remained low more than 30 years later, although protection did weaken over time, according to study findings that were published Friday in The Lancet.

Overall, this is good news. Not only do you get to prevent pregnancy, you get to prevent ovarian cancer at the same time (long-term protection against endometrial cancer is a bonus too). But there's a downside to this hopeful news: The pill also slightly increases the chances of breast and cervical cancer. The risk seems to disappear once a woman stops taking the oral contraceptive but still, the gamble remains for as long as the medication is used.

Source

If you're craving something festively sweet this holiday season, reach for a gingerbread cookie. It's sure to hit the spot -- with it's mere 180 calories -- and it just might fight cancer at the same time.

Two recent studies indicate that the compounds in ground ginger -- the kind used in most gingerbread recipes -- help battle breast cancer. Another study finds ground ginger causes ovarian cancer cells to attack themselves and die. It's not yet clear how much ginger is necessary to combat these diseases, but using ginger in everyday dishes is a good start.

If your mouth is watering for a little gingerbread, check out this cookie recipe.

Source

Turnips don't usually make me think 'tasty'. Rather, the vegetable conjures up images of kids being sent from the table after refusing to eat the mushy mass left on their plate. I don't actually have anything against the turnip really, it just doesn't excite me in the same way that broccoli, fresh peas and carrots do.

Well it didn't excite me that is, until I saw this article about just how good they are for you. Did you know, for example, that turnips contain heaps of vitamin C, calcium and iron? And as an added benefit, the super-vegetable can lower your risk of developing a range of cancers including stomach, lung, breast and ovarian.

It's important to note though, that in order to reap all of these anti-cancer benefits, you should avoid boiling turnips. If you'd like to find some other recipes that offer tasty ways to consume the vegetable, take a look at the recipes listed at the bottom of the article.

Source

For those who take it on a regular basis, and who remember to take it every day at the same time, the pill is a pretty effective form of contraception. It's not for everyone though, so those who are thinking of going on the pill should take a look at this article, which discusses some of the pros and cons of the oral contraceptive.

Some of the more well-known pros include clearer skin, lighter periods and less severe or no cramps. One of the major cons that I've heard women talk about is the extra weight gain associated with taking the pill. However, I've also heard that no one should gain more than a few pounds, if any. Also, the pill protects again some forms of cancer, like ovarian and endometrial cancer, but may increase the risk of breast, cervical and liver cancer. Also, smokers, especially those over age 35, who take the pill are at risk of developing life threatening blood clots.

So that's the good and the bad, but what about the stuff they don't tell you? A women quoted in the article insists that she noticed an increase in her sex drive when she quit taking the contraceptive, but admits it could be due to a number of factors. I know a women who insists that her curly hair went completely straight when she went on the pill and another who says that for the first week she starting taking the contraceptive, her emotions went wild.

As usual, the best way to find out if the pill is right for you is to do some research, talk to your doctor and make sure to ask lots of questions and ensure any concerns you have are addressed before you make your choice.

Source

Not too long ago the first ever whole ovary transplant in the United States was performed between twins successfully by Dr. Sherman Silber in St. Louis. And now more recently, a woman who would otherwise be infertile due to chemo and radiation therapy from cancer now has renewed hope, thanks to receiving a new ovary from her sister.

This procedure can not only give many women more options and choices when it comes to fertility and having children, but it can also help restore normal hormone function for women who have undergone early menopause due to any number of causes. So far the surgeries are a success, and although doctors are optimistic about the future, right now only women with close genetic ties (like twins and sisters) are candidates for the procedure.

Source