Inspecting the Breast Cancer Risk in Hormonal Contraceptives

Use of specific types of hormonal contraceptives may lead to the risk of evolving different types of breast cancer, revealed by a large-scale study from Uppsala University in Sweden. The data was published in the journal JAMA Oncology. Researchers analyzed around two million women and young girls for breast cancer risk connected with divergent hormonal contraceptives. (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Hormonal Contraceptive Formulations and Breast Cancer Risk in Adolescents and Premenopausal Women

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While prior studies chiefly focused on estrogen and progestin pills, the newer progestin-only methods like hormonal implants, coils, and injections have become highly prominent.

Desogestrel Linked to Highest Breast Cancer Risk

In the new study, which is the largest of its kind, researchers examined different types of hormonal contraceptives and their association with breast cancer risk. The study is made possible by Sweden’s unique national registers, which contain information on all dispensed prescriptions and all cancer diagnoses.

Over two million women aged 13–49 were included and followed via national registers from 2006 to 2019 to identify the risks associated with different types of contraception. The study shows that the risks vary depending on the type of hormone contained in the product.

“Not all hormonal contraceptives have the same effect on the risk of breast cancer,” says Professor Åsa Johansson, research group leader at Uppsala University and SciLifeLab and the study’s senior author.

“Our results indicate that some progestins – particularly desogestrel – are linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, while others, such as depot medroxyprogesterone acetate injections, showed no increase.”

Drospirenone Pills Show No Increased Breast Cancer Risk

The study also showed that both combined contraceptive pills and hormonal intrauterine coils containing levonorgestrel, which are among the most commonly used products in Sweden, were associated with a lower risk than desogestrel.

Without looking at the type of contraceptive used by the women in the study, hormonal contraceptive use was linked to a 24 per cent increased risk of breast cancer, which corresponds to approximately 1 extra cancer case per 7,800 users per year.

Moreover, the risk increased the longer they were used. Long-term use (5–10 years) of desogestrel products was associated with almost 50 per cent higher risk, while the corresponding use of levonorgestrel products resulted in less than 20 per cent increased risk.

Contraceptive pills containing drospirenone combined with oestrogen, which are also common in Sweden, were not linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. These may therefore be a safer option for women with a higher baseline risk.

Contraceptives Offer Protection Against Ovarian Cancer

“Hormonal contraceptives are highly effective and provide important health benefits, and we do not encourage women to stop using them,” says Fatemeh Hadizadeh, the study’s lead author.

“In addition to protecting against unwanted pregnancies, they reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, relieve menstrual pain and heavy bleeding, help with acne, and give women greater control over their reproductive health.

At the same time, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and until better preventive treatments are available, avoiding drugs that increase the risk can make a big difference – especially for women who are already at higher risk. The results of our study provide doctors and women with useful information to act on.”

Reference:

1. Hormonal Contraceptive Formulations and Breast Cancer Risk in Adolescents and Premenopausal Women - (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2840506)

Source-Eurekalert