The Link Between Injectable Contraceptives And Breast Cancer In Young Women

The first large-scale US-based study was made to evaluate the link between injectable contraceptives and breast cancer risk in young women. The study was led by breast cancer epidemiologist Christopher I. Li, M.D., Ph.D., of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and was published online as well as a print issue of Cancer Research.

A study made focused on the contraceptive called depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate, or DMPA. This contraceptive contains the same kind of progestin compared to menopausal hormone-therapy regimen which was found by a Women’s Health Initiative clinical trial to increase breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women. There were also several studies that have evaluated the link between depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate and breast cancer in younger women.

Li further added that this contraceptive has been widely used all over the world but there is very limited association between its use and the incidence of development of breast cancer. The results were also a compilation of international studies that were conducted in various countries like Kenya, New Zealand, Thailand, Mexico and Costa Rica. Most of the results were reported risks which were associated with the use of DMPA with the occurrence of breast cancer.

The recent study involved 1,028 women from Seattle within the age of 20 to 44 who has been diagnosed with breast cancer compared to controls who did not have a history of breast cancer. Out of the participants, there were 10% who used DMPA. It was also found that there were more non-white females who used DMPA compared to other races.

Li concluded that although there are numerous options for contraception for women in the US, it is important to outweigh the risks with the possible benefits of the preferred contraceptive method. This research study was funded by the National Cancer Institute and the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program.

Related reviews