Does birth control increase cancer risk in women?

Knowing what contraceptives to use and what could cause cancer and/or any other illness has become a concern to women over the years. If you are using contraceptives for the first time or looking into a replacement method, it’s a good idea to make time for a full consultation.

Types of birth control:

Short-acting

Birth control pills, the patch, a vaginal ring, or an injection received from a doctor are the most common forms of birth control. All these methods require a prescription from your doctor. They’re between 91% to 95% effective at preventing pregnancy for several women.

Long-term

You’ve got the alternative of getting an implant inserted into your arm or a birth control device (IUD) placed in your uterus. Implants and hormonal IUDs work by adjusting your body’s progestin levels over time. Copper IUDs don’t use hormones. Instead, the copper stops sperm from fertilizing your eggs.

One-time barrier contraception

Barrier contraceptives (condoms) don’t require a prescription and they’re readily available over the counter at many stores and online. In addition, condoms help protect against STIs, being the only real contraception method that does this.

Permanent contraception

Studies suggest that tubal ligation “tying the tubes” was significantly associated with reduced risks of ovarian, peritoneal, and fallopian tube cancers, and an increased risk of anal cancer, but was not associated with breast, endometrial or cervical cancer.

One thing to remember: contraception and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention aren’t one and the same thing. Only condoms, when used correctly,  protect against STIs.


Contraceptives that may put you in peril of cancer

It is said that contraceptives that use hormones, including contraception pills and intrauterine devices (IUDs), potentially increase the possibility of cancer. However, this all depends on these factors below:

  • Age
  • General health
  • Family history and personal risk for cancer
  • Other cancer risk factors, like smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and maintaining a healthy weight

Knowing what contraceptives to use and what could cause cancer and/or any other illness has become a concern to women over the years. If you are using contraceptives for the first time or looking into a replacement method, it’s a good idea to make time for a full consultation.


Types of birth control:

Short-acting

Birth control pills, the patch, a vaginal ring, or an injection received from a doctor are the most common forms of birth control. All these methods require a prescription from your doctor. They’re between 91% to 95% effective at preventing pregnancy for several women.

Long-term

You’ve got the alternative of getting an implant inserted into your arm or a birth control device (IUD) placed in your uterus. Implants and hormonal IUDs work by adjusting your body’s progestin levels over time. Copper IUDs don’t use hormones. Instead, the copper stops sperm from fertilizing your eggs.

One-time barrier contraception

Barrier contraceptives (condoms) don’t require a prescription and they’re readily available over the counter at many stores and online. In addition, condoms help protect against STIs, being the only real contraception method that does this.

Permanent contraception

Studies suggest that tubal ligation “tying the tubes” was significantly associated with reduced risks of ovarian, peritoneal, and fallopian tube cancers, and an increased risk of anal cancer, but was not associated with breast, endometrial or cervical cancer.

One thing to remember: contraception and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention aren’t one and the same thing. Only condoms, when used correctly,  protect against STIs.


Contraceptives that may put you in peril of cancer:

It is said that contraceptives that use hormones, including contraception pills and intrauterine devices (IUDs), potentially increase the possibility of cancer. However, this all depends on these factors below:

  • Age
  • General health
  • Family history and personal risk for cancer
  • Other cancer risk factors, like smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and maintaining a healthy weight


Prolonged use of the pill does slightly increase the possibility of cervical cancer compared to those that aren’t taking it. But it’s important to remember that there are other things that have a way bigger effect on the risk of getting cancer. As an example, being overweight or obese increases the prospect of cancer far more than taking the pill does.


A study of about 100 000 women suggests that the increased cancer risk associated with contraception pills is highest among older women? The study found that the prospect of cancer was greatest among women aged 45 and over who were still using the pill. This group was nearly one-and-a-half times as likely to get cancer as women who had never used the pill.


Experts caution women using older contraception pills that contain higher doses of hormones. Today’s lower-dose contraception pills are thought to cut back on this risk. A study of about 100 000 women suggests that the increased cancer risk associated with contraception pills is highest among older women? The study found that the prospect of cancer was greatest among women aged 45 and over who were still using the pill. This group was nearly one-and-a-half times as likely to get cancer as women who had never used the pill. Experts caution women using older contraception pills that contain higher doses of hormones. Today’s lower-dose contraception pills are thought to cut back on this risk.

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