Does Hormonal Birth Control Cause Breast Cancer

Electric current or recent use of nascency control pills (oral contraceptives) is linked to a slight increase in the take chances of breast cancer [ix,40-43].

Studies evidence while women are taking birth control pills (and shortly after), their breast cancer risk is 20-30 per centum higher than for women who've never taken the pill [forty,42-43].

Yet, this extra risk has a fairly pocket-sized touch because the absolute risk of breast cancer for most young women is low [40,42-43]. So, even those who take a slightly college risk are unlikely to become breast cancer.

Once women stop taking the pill, their risk of breast cancer begins to decrease [twoscore,43]. Over time, the level of take a chance returns to that of women who have never taken the pill [twoscore,43].

Weighing the pros and cons of nativity command pill use

Birth control pills accept some risks including a small increased risk of chest cancer (recent or current use). Nonetheless, in addition to preventing pregnancy, birth control pills decrease the chance of uterine and ovarian cancers [44-46].

Before making any decisions about birth command pills (or if you lot're currently taking them and haven't washed so already), talk with your wellness care provider about the benefits and risks.

Lower-dose birth command pills

Overall, today's lower-dose pills are linked to an increased chest cancer risk just similar older, higher-dose forms of the pill [43].

Progestin-only pills (mini-pills)

Some lower-dose birth control pills contain progestin just, with no estrogen. They may be called mini-pills. Mini-pills often lower the number of periods a woman has during a year, and periods may become irregular.

The use of noresthisterone mini-pills doesn't appear to be linked to breast cancer [43].

Before using any type of birth control pills (or if you're currently taking them and haven't done so already), talk with your wellness intendance provider most their benefits and risks.

Other hormonal contraceptives

Like birth control pills, some other contraceptives incorporate (or release) hormones.

Some contain progestin solitary:

Depo Provera (an injected contraceptive)
Hormone-releasing IUDs (intrauterine devices)

Some incorporate both estrogen and progestin:

Birth command patch
Vaginal ring

Findings on these products and breast cancer risk are discussed below. However, information on these products, especially studies with long-term follow-up, are limited. These topics are nether study.

Earlier using any type of birth control with hormones (or if y'all're currently using one and haven't washed and so already), talk with your health care provider about its benefits and risks.

Depo Provera

Findings on Depo Provera take shown no link to breast cancer risk overall [43,47-48].

However, a possible increase in gamble has been found among current, longer-term users compared to women who've never used Depo Provera [47-48].

Hormone-releasing IUDs

Findings on hormone-releasing IUDs and breast cancer are mixed. Some studies show IUDs have no link to breast cancer risk [49-50]. Others show women who use hormone-releasing IUDs may have about a 20 percent increased risk of breast cancer (similar to nascency control pills) [43].

Other findings suggest women who used hormone-releasing IUDs in the past may take an increased take a chance of breast cancer after menopause [51].

Nascence control patch and vaginal band

Utilise of the nascence control patch or the vaginal ring doesn't appear to be linked to breast cancer risk [43]. Nonetheless, information are limited.

Komen Perspectives

Read our perspective on birth control pills and breast cancer risk.*

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*Please note, the information provided within Komen Perspectives articles is only current as of the date of posting. Therefore, some information may be out of date.

Updated 03/14/22