Study: Progestin birth control may slightly increase breast cancer risk
Summary
Different types of birth control carry different cancer risks. Birth control using the hormone progestin slightly increases the risk of breast cancer during use and for a few years after use. (Posted 7/10/23)
Este artículo está disponible en español.
Printer Friendly Page Read the Original ArticleRELEVANCE
Most relevant for: People who are using or have recently used birth control containing only the hormone progestin.
It may also be relevant for:
- healthy people with average cancer risk
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
What is this study about?
This study found that birth control that contains only the hormone slightly increases a person’s risk of developing breast cancer. The researchers found that the increased risk is similar for different forms of birth control (pill, shot, patch or intrauterine device) and decreases over time after you stop using the birth control. This small increase in risk is similar to the slightly increased risk associated with birth control methods that include both and .
Why is this study important?
Hormonal birth control is very effective. Contraceptive pills, shots, implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs) use only or a combination of the hormones and .
Previous studies have found that recent use of birth control using a combination of and slightly increases the risk of breast cancer. However, this increased risk declines after people stop using this type of birth control. Ten years after stopping this type of birth control, breast cancer risk is no longer increased.
When choosing birth control, people often weigh the pros and cons of each method. A person’s cancer risk may influence their decision. Until now, doctors did not know how birth control containing only affects breast cancer risk. The new information from this study will be useful to people choosing what kind of birth control to use.
Study findings
This study looked at the prescription history for hormonal birth control among people with breast cancer. In this study, hormonal birth control includes:
- a pill containing and
- a pill containing only
- a injection
- a implant
- a progestin-releasing intra-uterine device (IUD)
Researchers looked at recent birth control use among almost 10,000 people who were diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 50. These people were compared to almost 20,000 other people without breast cancer (controls). The controls were close to the same age, had no history of breast cancer and were patients of the same general practice.
The researchers also looked at prior studies. Some of these included participants in a wider age range and only looked at the use of progestin-only birth control.
The key findings
- Current or recent use of birth control with either combined birth control ( and ) or alone leads to a small increase in breast cancer risk.
- For example, the risk of breast cancer in women ages 35-39 who took either combined birth control or alone birth control increased from 2% to 2.2% in the 15 years including and after birth control use.
- The increased risk for breast cancer quickly declines after stopping progestin-only birth control, as it does with the use of combined birth control.
- The increase in risk was similar across birth control methods (pills, shots, implants or IUDs).
What does this mean for me?
If you have an average risk for breast cancer and you already use or are thinking about using hormonal birth control, understand that it may slightly increase your breast cancer risk while you take it and for a short time after you stop taking it.
When you talk with your doctor about birth control, weigh the risks and benefits of your options. Consider your age and other risk factors. Hormonal birth control has many benefits. It is very effective and is known to reduce the risk of some health issues, including certain gynecologic cancers. It does not, however, protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
Another form of progestin-containing birth control will be available soon. Recently the approved a progestin-based over-the-counter birth control pill - the OPill. This is expected to be available in early 2024 according to its manufacturer. Read the approval here.
Reference
Fitzpatrick D, Pirie K, Reeves G, et al., Combined and progestogen-only hormonal contraceptives and breast cancer risk: A UK nested case-control study and . PLOS Medicine; 2023; 20(3). Published online March 21, 2023
Disclosure: FORCE receives funding from industry sponsors, including companies that manufacture cancer drugs, tests and devices. All XRAYS articles are written independently of any sponsor and are reviewed by members of our Scientific Advisory Board prior to publication to assure scientific integrity.
Share your thoughts on this XRAY review by taking our brief survey.
posted 7/10/2023
Strengths and limitations
This research had some strengths and limitations.
Strengths
- This study included data from a very large number of people.
- Prescription information came from the medical record, rather than people’s memories.
Limitations
- Because the information used for each person was from a specific period of time, rather than a complete prescription history, researchers could not determine how long birth control was used. They could only draw limited conclusions about long-term risk.
- Some of the other studies included in this research relied on people’s memories of using birth control after they were diagnosed with breast cancer.
- This study did not look at other risk factors for breast cancer—including genetics, family history or lifestyle. Therefore, the conclusions from this study may not apply to women at high risk for breast cancer due to an , family history or other factors.
- Although this study looked at research from around the world, most of the data was provided by studies of individuals from countries where people have a higher income and greater access to medical care.