Contraceptive Pill and Cancer Reduction
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A study published in the British Medical Journal has found that taking the contraceptive pill may reduce the risk of developing cancer in women that take the pill for eight years or less.
Researchers at the University of Aberdeen found that taking the pill for eight years or less could reduce the risk of developing cancer by 12% over a women’s lifetime. These results were based on the records of 46,000 women over 36 years, half of whom had taken birth control pills. The average length on time the women took the pill was 44 months.
Those who had taken the contraceptive pill had statistically significant lower rates of bowel, rectal, uterine, and ovarian cancer. The protective effects lasted for at least 15 years after stopping the contraceptive pill.
However, the researchers found an increased cancer risk for women that were on the pill for more than eight years. They also noted that the risks and benefits may differ internationally, and are dependent on a number of other variables, including patterns of oral contraceptive use, and the incidence of cancer in other countries.
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BCPs and cancer
I think this is one of those issues where the literature is mixed. BCPs may lower the risk of cancers when used by older women but some studies show they raise the risk of cancer when taken by younger women-that is, when women take them when they are young, these same women may have an increased risk of cancer later in life.
I think the issue is with the use of synthetic hormones. Estrogens(natural or synthetic) , though important for a woman's health, are stimulatory and over time may increase the risk of cancer. On the other hand, progesterone is protective of both uterine and breast cancer while progestin-the synthetic counterpart to progesterone, is protective of uterine cancer but not breast cancer For this reason I only use natural, bioidentical estrogen in the smallest amount effective and always give bioidentical progesterone when prescribing estrogen.
Darren Clair, MD
Vibrance Health Services
Thanks!
Thanks a lot for this information, Dr. Clair. Definitely important for women to know.