Pandia Health Survey: 76% of Women Don't Know That Turning off Their Period Can Reduce the Risk of Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - May 15, 2017) - According to a new survey, Birth Control IQ, commissioned by Pandia Health (www.pandiahealth.com), a startup that offers free birth control delivery, women can benefit from further education when it comes to birth control and its impact on overall health and wellness.

Turning Off Your Period

While women use birth control primarily for family planning, 76% of respondents are unaware that "turning off their period", the use of combination hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) to skip menstrual cycles, has significant health benefits such as preventing endometrial and ovarian cancer.

"Turning off your period not only decreases your chances of getting cancer but also will ultimately make women's lives better," Sophia Yen, MD, MPH, Pandia Health's Co-Founder and CEO. "While we don't have the cure for these cancers yet, we know that the more periods women have over their lifetime, the higher their chances of developing endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. Pandia Health's survey shows we need to educate women about birth control's many benefits beyond pregnancy prevention that ultimately decrease the chance of two cancers and lead to an improved quality of life."

While doctors have known about turning off your period using birth control pills since 1960, 33% of respondents view it as unnatural and unsafe. However, research shows that women who choose to skip their period are more likely to remember to take their birth control and have fewer menstrual-related symptoms such as headaches, genital irritation, tiredness, bloating and menstrual pain, which prevents some women from going to work or school (Edelman A1, Micks E, Gallo MF, Jensen JT, Grimes DA. (2014). Continuous or extended cycle vs. cyclic use of combined hormonal contraceptives for contraception (NCBI)).

The Truth about Emergency Contraception:

When it comes to emergency contraception (EC), most women don't know about the most effective method nor how long before it's too late to take EC. According to the survey, only 19% of women know the copper IUD is the most effective emergency contraceptive available; most (71%) incorrectly think that Plan B (levonorgestrel) is the most effective. More than half of respondents also believe they only have three days to take emergency contraception before its effectiveness is lost. However, per the World Health Organization, all methods of EC can be used for up to 5 days. Only 6% of respondents knew they have five days after a contraceptive failure or unprotected sex to take EC.

"It's critical we teach women about emergency contraception so they can make more informed decisions about their reproductive health," continued Dr. Yen. "For those who live in rural areas or aren't near a pharmacy, two days can make a big difference. That's why we encourage women to sign up for Pandia Health so they can get birth control and EC before they need it and with free delivery."

Anyone who wishes to learn more about their reproductive health can visit www.pandiahealth.com. For short, informative videos on everything from 'how to skip your period' to 'emergency contraceptives' check out Pandia Health on YouTube.

More than 300 US women (aged 18-45) participated in the Pandia Health: Birth Control IQ survey conducted online during the month of April 2017.

About Pandia Health: Pandia Health improves women's lives by providing a one-stop solution for birth control. By enabling online medical consults and automating prescription delivery, Pandia empowers all women with convenient and reliable access to control their reproductive health. Pandia services are currently available in California with plans to expand across the United States in 2017. For more information, visit pandiahealth.com