Study finds progestogen-only pill increases breast cancer risk

Researchers say taking a progestogen-only ‘mini pill’ carries a small risk of breast cancer, similar to combined oral contraceptive pills.

The study is one of the first able to assess the odds for users of this type of birth control.  It shows a tiny risk, skewed towards older users, which disappears within a few years of stopping the medication.

The pills, do however protect against some other female cancers.

The researchers looked at nearly 30,000 patient records held by GPs and found that being on these pills for five years increased a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer within the next 15 by 20-30%, depending on how old she was at the time.

Professor Gillian Reeves, one of the researchers at Oxford University, said “I don’t really see that there’s any indication here to say that women need to necessarily change what they’re doing.

“The main purpose of doing this research was really to fill a gap in our knowledge.

Dr Michael Jones from The Institute of Cancer Research, said “These findings suggest the use of hormonal contraceptives is associated with a slight increase in breast cancer risk before the menopause.

“The results were similar for different types of hormonal contraceptive, including progestogen-only contraceptives, where less is currently known about their risks.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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