Do oral contraceptives cause breast cancer?

Contraceptive pills are one of the most commonly used contraceptive methods. Currently, more than 100 million women around the world are using oral contraceptive pills. However, while contraceptive pills bring convenience to people, they also increase the risk of breast cancer.

The occurrence of breast cancer is closely related to the increase of estrogen in the body. If the secretion of estrogen in the body increases, it will cause excessive proliferation of breast duct epithelial cells and cause cancer. The main ingredients of oral contraceptives are estrogen and progesterone, so long-term use can increase the risk of breast cancer.

According to the World Health Organization, oral contraceptives are associated with breast cancer. Those who have taken oral contraceptives for more than 6 years before the age of 25 have a 5 times higher risk of breast cancer than normal people. Those who take them before the age of 35 have a higher incidence of breast cancer than those who take them after the age of 35. This is because most people stop taking contraceptives after the age of 35, and as the time of stopping the medication increases, the risk of breast cancer also decreases. Women who have not given birth also have a higher risk of breast cancer than normal people. In addition, the study found that among people who took contraceptives after the birth of their first child, the longer they took the medication, the higher the risk of breast cancer.

Therefore, girls, nulliparous women, and women with a family history of breast cancer should not take oral contraceptives.