Birth Control or Hormone Therapy
Researchers have long studied the link between oral contraceptives and the risk of cancer because birth control pills contain man-made versions of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which influence the development and growth of some cancers. Studies have found that oral contraceptives increase the risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer, although it may protect against ovarian cancer. However, it’s also been shown that breast cancer risk is linked to older high-dose estrogen birth control pills but not those with low doses. Additionally, findings indicate that combined hormone therapy after menopause also increases the risk of breast cancer.
