Ovarian Cancer: Study Finds Disease Has No Association With Baby Powder Use In Genital Areas

Talcum powders have been used by women for genital hygiene practices in order to absorb moisture and odor. But, this routine practice has been declining in the last 50 years. Products including talc, cornstarch or a combination of both have been typically used directly to the perineum or onto sanitary pads, tampons, underwear or diaphragms.

Health concerns pertaining to the use of talcum powders on the genital area have prompted thousands of U.S. lawsuits by women who have claimed that asbestos present in their talcum powder had caused them cancer. While talc is a mineral that has a similar structure of asbestos, the latter is known to cause cancer. Cosmetic industries agreed to ensure that talc products are free of asbestos in 1976.

Several smaller studies have investigated if there was any relation between cervical cancer risk and the use of talcum powder in genital areas. But, the results have been conflicting and have found no connection.

The findings of the largest-ever investigation, by far, have indicated that there isn’t any statistically significant link between baby powder use in the genital area and ovarian cancer risk.

The researchers pooled results from several long-running studies, which included more than 250,000 American women who were questioned periodically about the use of powders in their genital areas. While 40% of them said they did, they found that during the 11 years of follow-up, about 2, 168 women developed ovarian cancer. But, it was reported roughly similar numbers in those who didn’t use powders on genital areas and those who did.

They found hints of a potentially small increased likelihood of cervical cancer for women who have never had a hysterectomy or tubectomy. Experts also opined that it fits with a certain theory of how genital use of talcum powder poses cancer risk: with a pathway not blocked by surgery, the powder particles could potentially travel into the female reproductive system including fallopian tubes and ovaries causing irritation, inflammation, and damage of genetic material which could cause cancer.

“Among women from 4 prospective cohorts, there was not a statistically significant association between use of powder in the genital area and ovarian cancer, but the study may have been underpowered to identify a small increase in risk,” the authors said.