Protective effects

Cancer
The beneficial effects on some cancers, notably carcinoma of the endometrium and epithelial cancers of the ovary have been shown to be a non contraceptive benefit of the pill.*

Benign ovarian cysts
The pill usually shrinks these non-cancerous cysts, reducing discomfort and preventing further growth .

Benign breast tumours
A decrease in the occurrence of these tumours has been observed in women using the Combined pill.

*Gillebaud, J. (1999), Contraception. Your questions answered, third edition, Churchill Livingstone, P131