Hormonal contraceptives increase the risk of developing breast cancer, scientists have found. The data were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have collected data on almost two million Danish women from 15 to 25 years from 1995 to the present. During this period, more than 11.5 thousand cases of breast cancer were registered among them.
The risk of developing cancer was higher for those women who used hormonal contraceptives in the form of tablets, subcutaneous implants, patches or vaginal rings.
The risk increased in proportion to the length of the period of use of contraceptives. In the first year, it increased by 9%, if more than 10 years had passed – by 38%.
However, those who refused hormonal contraception after five or more years of use risk still remained elevated.
The results of the research show that even modern hormonal contraceptives can increase the risk of breast cancer.
However, the authors of the work draw attention to the fact that breast cancer is by far not the most common type of cancer, especially among young women.
In addition, the use of oral contraceptives is associated with a reduction in the risk of cancer of the ovaries, intestines and endometrium.
In this case, the positive effect of contraceptives remains after the end of admission much longer than negative.