- Blog /
- September 14, 2022
Birth Control and Breast Cancer
Oral contraceptives, better known as the pill, may affect a woman’s chances of developing breast and gynecologic cancers. In some cases, that means a bigger chance of cancer whereas in others, it means protection against cancer.
The National Cancer Institute notes that 12.4 percent of American women will develop breast cancer in their lifetimes due to risk factors such as family history of the disease or obesity. That equates to 12,400 cases of breast cancer per 100,000 women.
A Danish study on hormonal birth control estimates that hormonal contraceptive methods account for 13 breast cancer cases out of 100,000 women, which translates to a 0.013 percent risk, which is incredibly low compared to traditional risk factors as well as the risks a woman might encounter if she stops using hormonal birth control.
According to the IARC, the pill also offers protection against a number of cancers: Combined birth control pills have a significant protective effect against ovarian cancer.
As a patient, you should always talk to your doctor and weigh all of the pros and cons before deciding if the pill is right for you. The best birth control method is the one that works best for your lifestyle and health concerns!
Sources:
“Breast Cancer Risk in American Women”, originally published by the National Cancer Institute.
Time News:
MD Anderson Cancer Center: https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/birth-control-pill-and-cancer-risk.h28Z1590624.html