(Mar.
10, 2009) Oral contraceptives have been linked to breast cancer, bringing new
evidence to a long-suspected connection, according to a recent study in a major
medical journal.Women who have taken the birth control pill for a year or more, compared to those who took the pill for less than a year, or not at all, increase their risk of breast cancer by 50%, according to the Feb. 15, 2009 issue of the American Journal of Epidimiology.
Prior findings were based "largely on...studies conducted before 1990," according to Dr. Lynn Rosenberg, from Boston University, and colleagues, who authored the study. Since then, hormone dosages have decreased, spurring criticism that modern-day oral contraceptives cannot be linked to breast cancer, Reuters Health reports.
The findings have drawn warnings from other professionals as well. “While it is common to think that hormones are harmless, and can be used for contraception, these new studies show just how dangerous hormones can be,” said Dr. Scott Olsen, naturopathic doctor and author, as reported on the information website Examiner.com.
The study involved 2,600 women. "Given the widespread use of oral contraceptives, continued evaluation of their possible health effects may be warranted," Dr. Rosenberg and colleagues concluded.
The report serves as a caution to women in Berwyn, Cicero, Stickney, Westchester, Broadview, Brookfield, and other nearby Illinois communities, who need to learn about the health risks of the birth control pill, and other birth control methods, before deciding whether to take oral contraceptives. They can call WomanCare Services in Berwyn at 708-795-6000.