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

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

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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

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I like the source you used for this factcheck, but overall I think the title can be very misleading, especially because you didn't add prior information from the article. I think next time if you added more information it would've strengthened this fact check, as well as finding different articles to further support this fact check.

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Although this has been proven false, you don't seem to be exactly claiming what the original fact check does and neither does the article which makes this a little misleading. Along with that WebMD is always the best source to use in these and can often be an unreliable source on some topics. I would've found a better source and perhaps changed your original claim a little.

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I agree that cancer can be caused by a variety of factors, so crediting it to a single product like birth control isn't entirely accurate. I thought your explanation did a good job of showing the risks of products like birth control while also showing some sources for more accurate lists for the risks associated with the medication.

Answer 1

The birth control pill has been shown to increase and decreased the risks of certain types of cancer. the effect on cancer risk is also dependent on certain factors, including how long your on the pill, whether the pill contains estrogen or progestin, and personal and familial medical history. The pill decreases the risk of ovarian cancer by 50% and reduces risk of endometrial cancer. But some studies have shown a slight increase in Breast cancer and cervical cancer. 

Sources

1.https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/understanding-the-link-between-birth-control-pills-and-cancer-risk

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

Answer 2

This claim states that birth control causes cancer is exaggerated and misleading. According to the site they credited, risk for breast and cervical cancer may slightly increase over prolonged use, as well as the use of birth control in patients over 40 years of age. However the article then states that the risk decreases once stopping the use of birth control. The article also counters this claim by stating that your risk for endometrial, colon, and ovarian cancer decreases when using birth control methods at any point in your life. The National Cancer Institute corroborates these finding stating that risk for breast and cervical cancer may increase, while endometrial, colon, and ovarian cancer decreases.

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

Answer 3

This claim is a misleading oversimplification of a complex issue. While certain types of birth control do slightly heighten the risk of certain cancers, they actually limit the chances of developing a wide variety of other cancers, (especially those associated with the reproductive system, such as ovarian cancer). The claim that birth control causes cancer suggests that all birth control will give users cancer, a dangerous assertion that despite its inaccuracy, receives attention given the fear it instills in readers. Claims such as this one regarding female reproductive health can be incredibly damaging in context.

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).

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

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

Answer 4

This claim is false, birth control does not necessarily cause cancer. There is a possible correlation between taking birth control and increased rates of breast, ovarian, or cervical cancer but there may be multiple confounding factors at play. This can be impacted by the type of birth control used, the duration of use, and the individuals overall health. For example, the contraceptive pill can slightly increase the risk of breast cancer but it can decrease the rate of ovarian cancer and womb cancer. This is also increasing the risk but it may not be directly causing the cancer.

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

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

Answer 5

The claim states that “IUD’s, birth control pills, birth control shots, and others raise or lower your risk” This statement is misleading because it over simplifies a complex topic. The relationship between birth control and cancer risk is not a straightforward one. According City of Hope they go into depth about how certain birth controls can increase the risk in breast cancer and ovarian cancer by about 20-30%. City of Hope also states that certain birth controls may also reduce the risk in potential cancers. My source also goes into how family history and age may be a factor in increased cancer risk, “But keep in mind, cancer risk generally also increases with age, which makes assessing the link between birth control and cancer more complicated.” There is so many other reasons that someones cancer risk may increase and not just birth control. There is another article written by City of Hope going more into detail about how increase in cancer risk may be due to hereditary factors.

1.)
Hope, C. of. (2024, May 7). Does birth control cause cancer?. City of Hope. https://www.cancercenter.com/community/blog/2023/10/does-birth-control-cause-cancer#:~:text=But%20for%20years%2C%20the%20important,this%20form%20of%20birth%20control. 

2.) Hope, C. O. (2022, July 12). Genetic testing: Assessing hereditary cancer risks. City of Hope. https://www.cancercenter.com/treatment-options/precision-medicine/genetic-testing 

Answer 6

The WebMD article "Birth Control and Cancer Risk: What You Should Know" covers how hormonal birth control can affect cancer risk. It’s backed by reliable sources like the National Cancer Institute. The article correctly states that birth control pills can lower ovarian cancer risk by up to 50% and slightly increase the risk of breast and cervical cancer. However, there are still a few things to be cautious of. The article presents cancer risks in broad terms without explaining individual factors like genetics, lifestyle, or specific durations of use, which can affect cancer risk differently for each person. So while the article is somewhat reliable, the claim is not, as it contradicts what was said within.

Answer 7

The claim that "birth control pills increase your risk of breast cancer by 50%, but IUDs lower it completely," posted by "WellnessMom101" on News Detective, is partially true but exaggerated and misleading. I investigated "WellnessMom101," a self-described "natural health advocate" whose X account links to "PurelyNaturalLiving.com," a blog with no medical credentials that hawks essential oils and distrusts pharmaceuticals—hinting at bias.

Trusted sources like the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and a 2017 New England Journal of Medicine study show pills raise breast cancer risk by 20–30% during use, not 50%, with risk normalizing after stopping. For IUDs, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and a 2021 PLoS One study found no evidence they "completely lower" risk—hormonal IUDs may slightly increase it, while copper ones are neutral. Tracing back, the claim’s origin on X (January 2025, "NaturalCuresNow") distorts WebMD’s summary of these studies to push an anti-hormonal agenda. Verdict: the pill risk is overstated, and the IUD claim is false.

1. **National Cancer Institute (NCI)

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

2. New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), 2017 Study

 Mørch, L. S., et al. "Contemporary Hormonal Contraception and the Risk of Breast Cancer." NEJM, DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1700732  

3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)

www.acog.org/womens-health](https://www.acog.org/womens-health

4. PLoS One, 2021 Study

 Fitzpatrick, D., et al., "Hormonal IUDs and Breast Cancer Risk." PLoS One, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250173  

5. WebMD Article

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

Answer 8

I would say this is partially false. While some forms of hormonal birth control has been associated with a slightly increased risk of certain cancers [ex. breast cancer], it also decreased risk of others [ex. ovarian & endometrial cancer]. The overall risk varies based on individual factors and medical professionals weigh these risks when prescribing birth control.

Answer 9

This post has exaggerated the contents from the article linked. However, birth control can affect cancer risk in different ways, depending on the type you use. Some hormonal contraceptives, like birth control pills, shots, and hormonal IUDs, have been linked to a slightly increased risk of breast and cervical cancer. An article titled, Oral Contraceptives and Cancer Risk mentions that long-term use of birth control pills reduces the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer. But at the same time, there is a small, temporary increase in breast cancer risk while using them. Hormonal IUDs have a similar pattern, for example, this article titled New Study Links Hormonal IUDs to Higher Risk of Breast Cancer, suggests that they might slightly raise the risk of breast cancer. However, they’re also known to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer. This claim forgot to add this information to help exaggerate their point. Overall, it depends on the type of birth control, how long you use it, and your health records.

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

https://www.health.com/hormonal-iud-raise-breast-cancer-risk-8731608