Oral Contraceptive Pill’s Cancer Risk Drops Over Time
A study led by researchers at Oxford University has concluded that orally-taken contraceptives raise the chance of cervical cancer developing, but that this risk drops after their use ceases. The study – international in nature, and involving the participation of 52,000 female patients – discovered that, the longer the pill was taken, the greater the consequent risk of cancer. However, a decade after coming off the pill, the risk was seen to reduce to a level equivalent to if it had never been taken.
According to experts, the risks were insubstantial, but they still advocated regular cervical screening for women taking the pill. Historically, a strong association has been formed between the pill and breast cancer. At a lower level, it has also been connected to the onset of womb and ovarian cancer.
Risk of Cancer Drops After Pill Use Ends, and Again After 10 Years
The researchers’ findings - which received publication in the Lancet medical journal – came after 24 trials – globally undertaken – had been viewed. Specifically, they found that the risk of cervical cancer stood at two times more likely in women who had been taking the pill for five years or more, compared to those either on alternative contraceptives, or none at all. This risk diminished in intensity after the pill’s use ceased – reducing further 10 years down the line.
While this latest report is not unprecedented in linking the pill with cervical cancer, previous studies did not place the risks within a timeframe, as this new one has done.
Annually, the pill is taken by millions of the UK’s women.
Generally speaking, said the researchers, the additional chance of cervical cancer developing in those taking it is small. In the UK – as in other developed nations – it stands at 0.38 per cent for women who have never taken it. The figures for those having taken it for five or ten years are 0.4 per cent and 0.45 per cent respectively.
British Schoolgirl Vaccinations Will Prevent Potential Cervical Cancer Cases
In years to come, a large number of potential cervical cancer cases will be halted through the recently-announced directive to vaccinate all British schoolgirls aged between 12 and 13 against the disease.
Cancer UK’s Dr Jane Green – also the head researcher involved – stated, of the pill and the study’s results: "The pill remains one of the most effective forms of contraception, and in the long term the small increases in risk for cervical and breast cancers are outweighed by reduced risks for ovarian and womb cancer."
In the opinion of Professor Peter Sanieni, woman should feel reassured after reading the Lancet article. "For the individual women regularly going for screening the lifetime risk is more like two in 10,000”, he said. “One in three women will get cancer in their lifetime anyway so the risk is fairly small.
"The important thing in this study is it shows what happens when you stop the pill."
Source – Pharmaceutical International’s Health Reporter
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