Exploring one of the most debated topics in women’s health: the link between birth control and risks for breast cancer and ovarian cancer
Women come into my office every day who are under the impression that taking oral contraceptives, otherwise known as “the pill” or the birth control pill, will increase their risk of developing breast cancer or ovarian cancer. Researchers have long questioned the relationship between the pill and various female cancers.
Although several studies have been done on the topic, the results are mixed. Understandably, this can be confusing for patients who are constantly being exposed to information about the next cancer-causing household product or lifestyle choice.
Excluding patients who have a family history and/or hereditary predisposition to breast and gynecologic cancer, there is no hard evidence suggesting women should not use the pill as a viable and safe method of birth control. The results of several large population-based studies show that birth control pills do not appear to increase or decrease the risk of breast cancer.
And there are some studies that show that birth control pills used over a long period of time (10+ years) appear to decrease the risk of ovarian cancer, one dangerous and deadly women’s gynecologic cancer. These studies are specific to birth control pills; implantable contraception resources, such as Nexplanon and Implanon, have not been studied in this regard.
Hormonal birth control and breast cancer
Oral contraceptives are one of the most effective and utilized forms of birth control. Women have been taking birth control pills for more than 50 years. The majority of birth control pills contain man-made versions of the female reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Some physicians have concerns that the hormones in birth control pills may overstimulate breast cells, which can increase the risk of breast cancer. However, the various studies done on this topic differ dramatically in findings.
For example, one study noted an increase in breast cancer in a group of women who were currently taking or had taken birth control pills, and the longer the women had taken the pills the more they increased their risk. Another longer study, with more participants, showed no increase in breast cancer risk for women who had used or were using birth control pills.
Researchers believe that these differences may be due to changes in the level of hormones in the doses that have occurred over time. For example, older versions of the pill contained a high dose of estrogen, whereas birth control pills now typically contain a much lower dose of estrogen. In general, most studies have not found an overall increased risk of breast cancer in current or former users of birth control.
Hormonal birth control and ovarian cancer
Some studies have found that using birth control may actually reduce the risk of some cancers, including ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer affects about 1 in 60 women each year and is considered a “silent killer” due to its late onset of symptoms and almost no warning signs.
Hormones in birth control pills again appear to factor in – but in a good way concerning ovarian cancer. Some studies show that ovarian cancer risk is reduced by as much as 30-50 percent among women taking birth control pills for at least three years.
New studies also show that as little as six months of use can dramatically reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, and the protective effect of the pill’s hormones increases the longer the woman is on the pill. The birth control pill has also been shown to reduce incidence of endometrial cancer.
Evaluating the risks and benefits of using the birth control pill
Some women should approach birth control pill use cautiously. Those with a family history of breast cancer related to mutations in the BRCA genes should discuss their family history of cancer with their doctor when evaluating the risks and benefits of using birth control pills.
Although research has shown that there is a link between oral contraceptives and cancer risk, there is no hard evidence to suggest that women in general should not use the pill as a viable and safe method of birth control.