Surprise! The Pill Linked to Cancer

In 2007 the World Health Organization determined that oral contraceptives were Group I carcinogens, which are capable of causing several cancers in women, including breast cancer.  Unfortunately their findings have yet to be published in mainstream media, therefore many doctors aren’t aware of the risks and continue to prescribe oral contraceptives to their patients.


A new study widens this risk to include African-American women.  Scientists at Boston University School of Medicine followed 53,848 African-American women for an average of 12 years, beginning in 1995.  They found 789 cases of breast cancer.  Of these cases, the number of estrogen receptor-negative cases was 65% greater in women who had used the pill.  Such breast cancers have a worse prognosis than estrogen receptor-positive tumors.  The risk for breast cancer was greatest in women who had used the pill within five years and whose use was greater than ten years.


Funding for the study was provided by the National Cancer Institute.

References

Oral Contraceptive Use and Estrogen/Progesterone Receptor–Negative Breast Cancer among African American Women: http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/19/8/2073.full.pdf+html

There Are Alternatives!

Hormonal contraception is easy to use and easy for doctors to prescribe, but is not the only contraceptive choice out there.  Take a look around our site and educate yourself about other options before you make a decision. Make sure you read our information on side effects and pollution. Not because we're anti-pill but just because we know that not enough balanced information is presented to a woman when seeking contraceptive advse from her Doctor.          


Remember, only one egg per cycle is produced in fertile women and that egg can only be fertilized for about 18 hours. By just avoiding intercourse or using a barrier contraceptive during your most fertile time, pregnancy can be avoided without having to constantly alter your hormonal balance. Take a look at our information on fertility awareness, fertility charting and contraceptive monitors like Cyclotest.         


Check it out, do your homework, and speak with your partner and doctor about alternative forms of birth control!