Birth Control Pills May Increase Breast Cancer Risk a Little
Based on research, most healthcare professionals generally believed that using modern birth control pills (oral contraceptives) did not increase breast cancer risk. The results of this important study contradict that idea.
A study combined the results of many different earlier studies looking at breast cancer risk and birth control pills. The researchers did find a slight increase in breast cancer risk in women who took birth control pills. It's important to note that the increase in risk was very small. And this slight increase in risk decreased over time, so after 10 years, there was no association between birth control pills and breast cancer.
Birth control pills do have benefits:
- decreasing ovarian and endometrial cancer risk,
- relieving menstrual disorders, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ovarian cysts, and
- improving bone mineral density.
As with any medicine, it's best to talk to your doctor about any concerns you have. Together you can weigh the risks and benefits and decide what is best for YOU.
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