Claim: Birth Control Causes Cancer

Question

If you use birth control, you might be wondering whether it affects your chances of getting cancer, IUDs, birth control pills, birth control shots, and others raise or lower your risk.

Comments

Using birth control pills can reduce ovarian cancer risk by up to 50%, and this protective effect can last for many years after stopping use. Similarly, hormonal IUDs, which thin the endometrial lining, can help prevent or even treat early-stage endometrial cancer. It's understandable to be concerned about how birth control might affect your cancer risk. Interestingly, certain types of birth control can actually lower the risk of some cancers. For example, birth control pills and hormonal IUDs have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers
1. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/oral-contraceptives-fact-sheet
2. https://www.mskcc.org/news/birth-control-and-cancer-risk

---

I like that you added additional sources to your claim. This further helped support your claim along with giving us a creditable source to look to. A summary to the links would also have been a nice touch.

---

Although it has been disproved, there has been questions raised about whether birth Control causes cancer. Hormonal birth control, like the pill, might slightly raise the risk of certain cancers but it also lowers the risk of others, like ovarian and endometrial cancer.

---

While different forms of contraceptives may differ in their correlation with cancer, outright stating that birth control causes cancer is misleading due to the fact that there are different forms of contraceptives and there is no single "birth control". The claim is also unspecific as to what kind of cancer in question can be caused by the use of contraceptives.

While the claim that cancer can be caused by birth control is not entirely true, a quick google search can lead to more accurate information, such as the fact that "Naturally occurring estrogen and progesterone stimulate the development and growth of some cancers (e.g., cancers that express receptors for these hormones, such as breast cancer). Because birth control pills contain synthetic versions of these female hormones, they could potentially also increase cancer risk."

"In addition, oral contraceptives might increase the risk of cervical cancer by changing the susceptibility of cervical cells to persistent infection with high-risk HPV types (the cause of virtually all cervical cancers)."

While the debate is not entirely black and white, deeper research needs to be made when making such claims as fear mongering and clickbait when it comes to medicinal topics can be dangerous.

Sources:
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/oral-contraceptives-fact-sheet#how-could-oral-contraceptives-influence-cancer-risk

---

Certain forms of birth control can be linked to a lower risk of some cancers. Research done in the article says that birth control pills can reduce ovarian cancer risk by up to 50%. This research was done by the National Cancer Institute, an official government website, which I checked and had the same findings. Similarly, hormonal IUDs may help prevent or even treat early-stage cancers, which I also found to be true at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's official website

Answer 1

The claim "Birth Control Causes Cancer" is an oversimplification and very misleading.

Trusted medical sources indicate that:

• Birth control has complex and varied effects on cancer risk.
• It significantly reduces the risk of some cancers.
• It may be associated with a slightly increased risk of certain cancers, but the overall risk is low.

Therefore, it's crucial to rely on information from reputable medical organizations and consult with a healthcare professional for personalized guidance. The question definetley deserves to be talked about but should be looked at with more facts instead of projecting wild claims like this one.

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/hormones-and-cancer/does-the-contraceptive-pill-increase-cancer-risk#:~:text=The%20contraceptive%20pill%20slightly%20increases,ovarian%20cancer%20and%20womb%20cancer.

Answer 2

While the article that the poster cites as their primary source does mention evidence of certain forms of birth control contributing to increased risk of cancer, the claim as a whole is a broad overgeneralization that misses many of the nuances included in the very article it cites, many of which even contribute to the opposing argument.

The validity of WebMD requires questioning to begin with as it is not a peer-reviewed journal.  With that said, the article explores the relation of cancer risk with multiple different forms of birth control and mentions instances of birth control leading to both increased risk of certain cancers (breast, cervical) and decreased risk of other cancers (endometrial, ovarian, colorectal).  Studies by the National Cancer Institute and the Cancer Research Center of the UK back up these findings.

https://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/birth-control-cancer-risk

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/hormones-and-cancer/does-the-contraceptive-pill-increase-cancer-risk

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/oral-contraceptives-fact-sheet#:~:text=Overall%2C%20however%2C%20these%20studies%20have,reduced%20(1%E2%80%933).

Answer 3

This statement is partially true but misleading, women on birth control are at greater risk of breast and cervical cancer however, the risk is reduced when using oral contraceptives for endometrial, ovarian, and colorectal cancers. Much of this research and evidence comes from observational studies from the National Cancer Institute. When looking at cervical cancer if a woman is taking oral contraceptives for over 5 years they have a high risk of getting cervical cancer compared to women who have not. According to cancer.gov, there is “10% increased risk for less than 5 years of use, a 60% increased risk with 5–9 years of use, and a doubling of the risk with 10 or more years of use. However, the risk of cervical cancer has been found to decline over time after women stop using oral contraceptives”. In terms of ovarian cancer, if a woman has ever  used an oral contraceptive they have a 30-50% reduced risk of developing ovarian cancer in comparison to those who have never taken oral contraceptives. The longer the contraceptive is taken the longer its protection increases causing up to 30 years of continuation after a woman has got off the contraceptive. 

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/oral-contraceptives-fact-sheet 

Answer 4

This claim is exaggerated and misleading. There is not enough results of studies that prove that birth control causes cancer. There are many different types of cancer and there are multiple factors that can lead to the root of them. Stating that birth control causes cancer is extremely misleading and can guide people to fear their contraceptives. 

Oral contraceptives do not directly cause cancer. However, some studies have shown consistent evidence that there is an increased chance of developing breast/cervical cancer in women who use oral contraceptives. According to Cancer.Gov, "An analysis of data from more than 150,000 women who participated in 54 epidemiologic studies showed that, overall, women who had never used oral contraceptives had a slight (7%) increase in the risk of breast cancer compared with women who had never used oral contraceptives." Nevertheless, there are multiple types of oral contraceptives, and data from the Nurses' Health Study found that participants who took the specific "triphasic" pill showed the increased risk of breast cancer. The dose of hormones in the this type of pill is changed in three stages over the course of a woman's monthly cycle (Cancer.Gov). Additionally, Cancer.Gov states that those who have been using oral contraceptives for over 5 years have a higher risk of cervical cancer, "One study found a 10% increased risk for less than 5 years of use, a 60% increased risk with 5-9 years of use. [...] However, the risk of cervical cancer has been found to decline over time after women stop using oral contraceptives." There is little evidence that oral contraceptives directly cause cancer.

There are main breast cancer risks that are not oral contraceptives. These can include, a personal history of breast conditions, family history of breast cancer, reproductive history, weight, age, and more. According to Mirakind.Org, "your risk for breast cancer is due to a combonation of factors - hormonal, environmental, & lifestylle factors."

Overall, there are many risks for cancer; however oral birth control is not a main risk for cancer. This statement is misleading and is exaggerated.

Answer 5

The claim that has been made is misleading because although birth control may have side effects, this article seems to only pick on the birth control increase in the risk of certain cancers. On the other hand, birth control reduces the risk of certain cancers. Certain contraceptives have been proven to lower certain cancers, such as ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer.

The sources I have provided are trusted websites by the government explaining their studies and the differences between different contraceptives and either higher or lower risks of cancer. It has been researched that while on birth control, your chances for breast cancer are increased. According to M.D. Andrea Milbourne, “A lot of people think the pill always ups your risk of cancer, but that’s simply not true.” Milbourne has been with the cancer research company for 22 years and has proven to be a reliable source. 

Sources:

Oral Contraceptives and Cancer Risk

MD Anderson Cancer Center

Answer 6

Before I decided if I think this claim is true or false, or exaggerated/misleading, I clicked on the website linked in the provided article "Birth Control and Cancer Risk: What You Should Know" by Camille Noe. The article says taking the birth control pills will slightly increase your risk of getting breast and cervical cancers, and the longer you use them the higher your risk will become. They do claim however, they lower your risk of getting endometrial, colon, and ovarian cancers. With IUD's the article says it can decrease your risk of ovarian, endometrial, pancreatic, and lung cancers, but if it contains levonorgestrel it can increase your risk of breast cancer. Lastly, the article says that they're not sure how the birth control shot can affect cancer risks, but some researchers have found it can slightly increase your risk. This article does seem like a pretty reliable source because it says it was medically reviewed, but I wanted to take a look at another source from the National Cancer Institute . This article specifically talks about the oral use of birth control. The article suggests that women who had taken the pill in the past had a 7% increase in risk of breast cancer, versus those currently taking the pill had a 24% increase. Another source I looked at was from the American Cancer Society. This source also suggests if you have, or are currently taking birth control pills you have a slight risk of breast cancer, and that the longer you take them the more likely you are to be at risk. After analyzing all the sources I think the claim "Birth control causes cancer" is misleading. In all of my sources they say it can increase your risk of cancer, but it doesn't say what the claim does, that if you take birth control you're going to get cancer. Therefore, I think the claim is exaggerated/misleading. 

Answer 7

This claim that birth control causes cancer is very misleading and quite frankly false. With there being so many different types of birth control with different hormones it is innacurate to vaugely state that all birth control in general causes cancer. An article published by the National Cancer Institute points out that while there has been trends bewteen prolonged use of oral birth control and an increased risk of cervical and breast cancers it is important to highlight that "women who take oral contraceptives may differ from those who don’t take them in ways other than their oral contraceptive use, and it is possible that these other differences—rather than oral contraceptive use—are what explains their different cancer risk". In addition to these findings the NCI and National Liberary of Medicine found that the risk of other cancers such as "endometrial, ovarian, and colorectal cancers are reduced". In conclusion the relationship between contreceptives and cancer rates is complex and relies on many different factors such as indiviuals health, types of birth control and duration of use. 

Sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2628413/

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/oral-contraceptives-fact-sheet#:~:text=Overall%2C%20however%2C%20these%20studies%20have,reduced%20(1%E2%80%933).

Answer 8

Birth control does not cause cancer and this "fact" is false. Hormonal birth control can, however, increase or decrease the risk of developing certain cancers. For example, they are associated with a slight increase in the risk of breast, cervical, and liver cancers, especially with long-term use. Meanwhile, they offer protective effects against ovarian and endometrial cancers. It really does depend on birth control, as well. The “fact” points to all birth controls, yet only hormonal ones are responsible for the increase or decrease. Let's take the pill for example; it typically contains synthetic forms of estrogen and progestin which are hormones that, when overly injected, can influence risk by affecting how these hormones interact with the body, particularly reproductive organs. 

Sources: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/oral-contraceptives-fact-sheet?utm_source

https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/birth-control-pill-and-cancer-risk.h28Z1590624.html?utm_source

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2628413/#:~:text=There%20was%20an%20increased%20risk,0.017

 

 

Answer 9

The claim of birth control "causing" cancer is outwardly misleading. In the article linked, Web MD author Camille Noe Pagán outlines the fact that birth control can increase your risk of getting breast cancer, but it doesn't cause it out of nowhere. The article additonally mentions that the longer someone uses birth control, the higher the risk of both cancers can be. Both of these points are explained to consenting patients before initially taking the pill, so this claim is overall misleading. According to the National Cancer Institute, "...there is consistent evidence that the risks of cervical and breast cancers are increased in women who use oral contraceptives, whereas the risks of endometrial, ovarian, and colorectal cancers are reduced."

Answer 10

This claim is exaggerated and misleading. While some contraceptives can increase your chances of getting certain types of cancer, birth control does not directly cause cancer. The credited source of this claim states that oral contraceptives may slightly increase risk of breast and cervical cancers, but does not give an exact percent. The website also claims that using pills at any point also lowers risk of endometrial cancer by 30%, colon cancer by 15-20%, and ovarian cancer as much as 50%. No sources are credited for these claims, but studies done by the NCI back  up this information. The original source credits University of Colorado study for the claim that IUD usage decreases risk of ovarian cancer by 32%. It also credits University of Columbia study for the claim that copper IUDs (IUDs with no hormones) come with a lower risk of cervical cancer than IUDs that release levonorgestrel. So while birth control can increase risk of certain types of cancer, it can also decrease the risk for a lot of different types. 

Original linked source: https://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/birth-control-cancer-risk

NCI: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/oral-contraceptives-fact-sheet#:~:text=Overall%2C%20however%2C%20these%20studies%20have,reduced%20(1%E2%80%933).

University of Colorado: https://obgyn.coloradowomenshealth.com/health-info/birth-control/medical-conditions-birth-control/cancer#:~:text=Cancer%20%26%20birth%20control%20at%20a,of%20ovarian%20and%20uterine%20cancers.

University of Columbia: https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/cervical-cancer-risk-decreases-in-users-of-copper-iuds-vs-hormonal-iuds/