Medications to Lower Endometrial Cancer Risk

This section covers the following topics:

Note that when we use the terms "female" and "women" we are referring to people assigned female at birth. 

Can medications lower the risk for endometrial cancer?

Healthy, high-risk individuals may benefit from medications to lower their risk for endometrial cancer. This approach to lowering risk is sometimes called "chemoprevention." Two medications that may lower endometrial cancer risk are progesterone and aspirin. More research is needed for experts understand how well these medications work, and who may benefit most from their use. High-risk people who are considering medications to lower their risk for endometrial cancer should speak with their doctor to decide whether chemoprevention is their best option for managing their risk.

Other drugs are being tested in clinical trials to see if they may also lower the risk for endometrial cancer. 

If you are interested in taking a medication to lower your risk for endometrial cancer, you should discuss the benefits, risks and limitations of this approach with your healthcare provider.

Progesterone

Often used as birth control, progesterone has been shown to lower the risk for ovarian cancer in both high-risk women and average-risk women. Some small studies also suggest that progesterone can lower the risk for endometrial cancer in high-risk women. 

Progesterone may be given as a pill, injection or through an Intrauterine Device (IUD). Progesterone can have side effects which vary widely based on how the medication is taken.  These side effects may include an increased risk for breast cancer and blood clots and weight gain.  

Aspirin

In people with Lynch syndrome, daily aspirin may decrease the risk for colon cancer. Researchers are studying whether aspirin lowers the risk for other cancers, including endometrial cancer. Aspirin can increase the risk for bleeding.