A number of studies have shown that oral contraceptives increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer, especially among young women. However, about ten years after a woman stops taking the hormone pills, the risk drops to normal levels.

At the same time, women who take oral contraceptives, decreases the risk of cancer of the endometrium and ovaries. This protective effect becomes stronger the longer a patient takes contraceptives.

Receiving oral contraceptive pill is associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer. However, this risk may also be related to the sexually active women - because of the increased likelihood of infection of human papillomavirus, which can lead to cervical cancer.

Oral contraceptives are also associated with increased risk of benign tumors of the liver; Feedback between contraceptives and malignant tumors of the liver is now less obvious.

How oral contraceptives can affect the risk of cancer

Estrogen and progesterone, which normally produces a female body, influence the development of certain cancers. Since oral contraceptives contain both hormone or only one of them (progesterone), researchers have become interested in these formulations can be associated with the development of cancer.

The results of studies on this issue are not always inconclusive. In general, however, the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer in women taking oral contraceptives, usually decreases, and the probability of breast cancer, cervical or liver, in contrast, increased. Then we'll talk in more detail and the relationship between oral contraceptives and various types of cancer.

Oral contraceptives and breast cancer

The risk of breast cancer in women depends on several factors, some of which relate to the production of hormones in her body. Risk factors include:

• Starting menstruation at an early age;
• Late onset of menopause;
• The first pregnancy over the age of 30-35 years.

The probability of developing breast cancer is also somewhat higher in women who have never had children.

Held in 1996, the analysis of more than 50 studies that took place all over the world, allowed to come to the conclusion that women who have taken or are currently taking oral contraceptives, the risk of breast cancer is slightly higher than that of women who never used a contraceptive .  After 10 years or more after the patient stopped to use oral contraceptives, the likelihood of developing breast cancer have already been the same as those who did not take hormonal contraceptives .  These results gave scientists in all subjects, regardless of their family history, ethnicity, place of residence, the dose of hormones contained in the pills they take, as well as the duration of intake of contraceptives .  Moreover, women who have more than 10 years ago stopped taking oral contraceptives, and subsequently became ill with breast cancer, tumors were less developed than those who never used hormonal contraception .  However, this can only mean that women in the first group to be screened more often, and they detected the cancer at an earlier stage .

In another study, which was attended by 116,000 nurses, it was found that those who took oral contraceptives, the likelihood of developing breast cancer Breast Cancer: Myths and Facts   It was significantly higher than average. However, almost all patients at high risk received three-phase contraceptive pills, the use of which the dose of hormones that enter the body, changed three times during each menstrual cycle. We need more research to better understand the features of the three-phase receiving oral contraceptives.

Oral contraceptives and ovarian cancer

Now experts believe that the use of oral contraceptives reduces the likelihood of ovarian cancer. An analysis of twenty studies conducted in 1992 showed that the longer a woman takes oral contraceptives, the less the likelihood that one day she is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. A year later, taking these drugs the risk is reduced by 10-12% in five years - about 50%.

In more recent studies conducted in the 21st century, experts have been studying the issue, as the dose or type of hormone in the composition of oral contraceptives affect the risk of ovarian cancer. In one such study it was found that the risk is not dependent on the type and amount of hormone contained in the tablets. However, other studies indicate that oral contraceptives containing high doses of progestin, largely reduces the risk of cervical cancer than tablets with low doses of progestin.

Oral contraceptives and endometrial cancer

In several studies it has been found that the use of oral contraceptives reduces the risk of endometrial cancer. The protective effect is enhanced in proportion to the duration of the reception of contraceptive tablets, and persists for many years after a woman stops taking them.

Oral contraceptives and cervical cancer

Long-term use of oral contraceptives (for five years or more) is associated with an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. The probability of cancer becomes greater the longer a woman takes contraceptives. However, among women who stopped using oral contraceptives, the risk decreases with time - no matter how long they take hormone pills.

In 2002 it published the report on the analysis of eight studies, which aimed to establish the connection, if any, between the intake of oral contraceptives and cervical cancer in women infected with human papillomavirus. Infected women who took oral contraceptives for 5-9 years, the risk was about three times higher than in women who had never used such means of contraception. Among the patients who took oral contraceptives for a decade or more, the risk increased to four times.

It is assumed that contained in birth control pills Birth control pills - how effective are they?   hormones can make the tissue cells of the cervix more vulnerable to human papillomavirus, affect their ability to resist infections, which may likely lead to changes in the cells that will eventually form a cancerous tumor. While it is not clear how the use of oral contraceptives may increase the chance of developing cervical cancer - this issue will be explored in further studies.

Oral contraceptives and liver cancer

Hormonal birth control pills is associated with an increased risk of benign tumors in the liver. These tumors can cause internal bleeding, but they rarely become cancerous.

The relationship between oral contraceptives Oral contraceptives - something to be feared at their reception?   and the development of liver cancer is still a matter of debate among scientists. A number of studies have found that women who took oral contraceptives for five years or more, the risk of cancer of the liver was increased, but other studies have not shown the presence of any relationship between liver cancer and oral contraceptives.

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