Hormonal Contraceptives Increase Breast Cancer Risk in Women of Reproductive Age

Written By : Jacinthlyn Sylvia |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2023-12-19T07:30:30+05:30 | Updated On 19 Dec 2023 10:55 AM IST

A recent comprehensive study published in the Cancers Journal indicated a higher risk of breast cancer (BC) among women who have used hormonal contraceptives (HC) during their lifetime. This study shows the intricate relationship between hormonal contraceptives and breast cancer with a special focus on women of reproductive age.

The data from observational studies around the years 2015 to 2022 were pooled. This examined a total of 724 studies and narrowed down to 22 for meta-analysis by including 19 case-control studies and 3 cohort studies. The findings of the study revealed a significantly elevated risk of developing breast cancer in ever-users of hormonal contraceptives (pooled OR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.19 to 1.49). The risk was found to be intensified in case-control studies (pooled OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.21 to 1.70) and in studies strictly defining menopausal status (pooled OR = 1.48; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.00).

The study suggests a urging caution in interpreting the results because of the substantial heterogeneity (>70%) among studies. Factors like study design, variable measurement, confounders, and potential publication biased the contribution to the complexity. While the overall risk of breast cancer appeared to be elevated in users or ever-users of modern hormonal contraceptives, the findings emphasize the need for careful consideration of these variables when interpreting and applying the results in clinical practice.

This study contributes to the ongoing void surrounding the impact of hormonal contraceptives on women's health. These findings highlight the importance of continuous research and a precise understanding of the diverse factors influencing the risk of breast cancer in the context of hormonal contraceptive use among women of reproductive age.

Source:

Torres-de la Roche, L. A., Acevedo-Mesa, A., Lizarazo, I. L., Devassy, R., Becker, S., Krentel, H., & De Wilde, R. L. (2023). Hormonal Contraception and the Risk of Breast Cancer in Women of Reproductive Age: A Meta-Analysis. In Cancers (Vol. 15, Issue 23, p. 5624). MDPI AG. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15235624

Journal MDPI CancersHormonal contraceptivesbreast cancers

Source : Cancers Journal

Jacinthlyn Sylvia

Neuroscience Masters graduate

Jacinthlyn Sylvia, a Neuroscience Master's graduate from Chennai has worked extensively in deciphering the neurobiology of cognition and motor control in aging. She also has spread-out exposure to Neurosurgery from her Bachelor’s. She is currently involved in active Neuro-Oncology research. She is an upcoming neuroscientist with a fiery passion for writing. Her news cover at Medical Dialogues feature recent discoveries and updates from the healthcare and biomedical research fields. She can be reached at editorial@medicaldialogues.in

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751