You may have heard about the lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson for selling talcum powder and not disclosing a potential risk of cancer. Various products contain talc, including medications, antacids, cosmetics, and contraceptives. Talc minerals are found in nature and are ground finely for product usage.
The National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society currently say the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer is unclear.
However, we need to look at recent scientific studies that show a consistent association between talc powder use and ovarian cancer.
An Epidemiology study shows that women who use talcum powder in their genital area are approximately 30% more likely to develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime.
The Internal Journal of Gynecological Cancer says that frequent use of talc powder in the genital area by women increases the risk of ovarian cancer by 60%.