Since the introduction of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) in the 1960s, women have been celebrating the opportunity to regain control of their reproductive health. And while OCPs are largely recognized as safe by the medical community, recent studies have indicated that combined birth control pills (those which use a variation of estrogen and progesterone type hormones) have been linked to an increase in breast cancer.
While these studies are still new, and the risk is considered quite low, the danger of taking these OCPs can be markedly high for those who are part of an at-risk demographic. We here at DrugLawJournal firmly believe that women should be informed of these risks to help empower them in making the best decision for themselves when it comes to birth control.
What did the studies reveal?
Back in 1989, researchers decided to follow nearly 120,000 nurses who ranged from their mid-twenties to their early forties to determine if there were any risks to taking oral birth control. When they followed up with these same nurses some twenty years later, the results were surprising. The researchers discovered that there was a slight increase in breast cancer incidences.
The risk was noted more frequently in the women who took what was known as a “tri-phasic” birth control pill. In fact, breast cancer wasn’t the only type of cancer found in these participants. These women also had an elevated likelihood of developing cervical cancer. On the other hand, there was a reduced risk of ovarian, endometrial, and colorectal cancer in these individuals.
Does this include all types of birth control?
Not all birth control is made the same. While the tri-phasic birth control as more commonly correlated with an elevated breast cancer risk, there are many different types of birth control on the market. Multiphasic birth control (the kind that has different doses of hormones administered depending on the stage of the menstrual cycle) wasn’t even introduced until the 1980s.
There are also monophasic birth control methods, progestin-only pills (POPs), and even IUDs. IUDs can include hormonal and non-hormonal (copper-based) intrauterine devices. While the same level of scrutiny hasn’t been given to these types of birth control, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re safe. It means that more research is required. Furthermore, for those who were affected by the OCPs, it’s important to remember that the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer was 13 in 100,000. That said, the risk is still there, and all women should be mindful of their own body’s reaction to birth control.
Can you reduce your risk of developing breast cancer?
Breast cancer has been associated with a variety of other factors. While OCPs are suspected to increase the chance of developing it over one’s lifetime, other things can come into play, too. Lifestyle, diet, and history of smoking can also increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer. By maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in healthy behaviors overall, the chance of getting breast cancer can be dramatically reduced.
Tracy Everhart
Tracy Everhart is the Editor for Drug Law Journal. A highly-trained and certified medical professional, Tracy is also an accomplished medical writer. After spending years on the front lines of the medical profession, Tracy now devotes her expertise and skills to researching and reporting on new drugs and devices that enter the market, as well as their side-effects and the real-life stories involved. Prior to joining Drug Law Journal, Tracy wrote for benchmark online healthcare resources focused on families and, in particular, women’s health issues. Tracy holds post-graduate degrees from both the American College of Healthcare Sciences and the Yale School of Nursing. She is also a graduate of both Hampshire College, where she studied microbiology and the University of South Carolina school of nursing.