Does contraceptive pill increase the risk of cancer?

Large prospective cohort studies and population-based case–control studies account for nearly all of the research on the connection between oral contraceptives and cancer risk. In this case, oral contraceptives, data from observational studies cannot definitively prove that an exposure causes cancer or prevents it. This is due to the fact that women who use oral contraceptives may differ from those who do not, and it is possible that these other differences—instead of oral contraceptive use—are what explain their distinct cancer risk.

Overall, however, these studies have provided consistent evidence that the risks of breast and cervical cancers are increased in women who use oral contraceptives, whereas the risks of endometrial, ovarian, and colorectal cancers are reduced.

What are contraceptive pills?

Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) are hormone-containing medications that are taken by mouth to prevent pregnancy. They prevent pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation and also by preventing sperm from penetrating through the cervix.

There are two main types of contraceptive pill, which you can read more about on the NHS website:

There are other types of hormonal contraceptives available. There is little evidence on these and the risk of cancer. Your GP can give you more information about the different types of contraception.

The combined pill. This pill contains 2 hormones; oestrogen and progestogen.

The mini pill (also called the progestogen-only pill or POP). This pill only contains progestog

en.

Taking the pill may help cut your risk of ovarian cancer and endometrial (uterine) cancer. That’s probably because women who take the pill ovulate, or release eggs from the ovaries, fewer times than women who don’t take the pill. The more times you ovulate over your lifetime, the more hormones you’re exposed to.

Breast cancer: taking the combined pill slightly increases the risk of breast cancer compared to people who do not take it. Ten years after stopping the pill, a person’s risk is no longer increased as if the pill was never used.


Cervical cancer: taking the combined pill may be linked with a slight increased risk of cervical cancer compared to people who do not take it. The increased risk may be bigger the longer the combined pill is used. Ten years after stopping the pill, a person’s risk is no longer increased – as if the pill was never used.

Ovarian cancer: taking the combined pill can lower the risk of ovarian cancer. This reduced risk stays when people stop taking the pill.

Endometrial (womb) cancer: taking the combined pill can lower the risk of womb cancer. This reduced risk stays when people stop taking the pill.

An initial analysis of an ongoing, multicenter case-control study indicates that women who have used contraceptives are approximately half as likely to develop ovarian and endometrial cancer as women who have never used them and that, despite previous concerns, contraceptive use does not appear to increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer.

Taking the pill may help cut your risk of ovarian cancer and endometrial (uterine) cancer. That’s probably because women who take the pill ovulate, or release eggs from the ovaries, fewer times tha\
n women who don’t take the pill. The more times you ovulate over your lifetime, the more hormones you’re exposed to.

The longer you take the pill, the greater the benefits. In fact, taking the pill for five years or longer may cut your ovarian cancer risk in half. That protection may last up to 25 years after you stop taking the pill, according to the National Cancer Institute. Studies even suggest the pill may protect against ovarian cancer in women with BRCA genetic mutations.

References:

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/
https://www.cdc.gov/
https://www.mdanderson.org/
https://www.cancer.gov/

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