Do birth control pills cause breast cancer?

Dear Concerned, 

It’s great that you want to approach your sexual health intentionally and mindfully. While there is a complex association between birth control use and breast cancer, navigating the risks can be tricky. Whether those associations present a health risk typically depends on your personal and family medical history. On a similar note, condoms are a great and effective way to prevent pregnancy and STIs when they’re used correctly. Overall, choosing your birth control method is a personal decision, and a health care provider can help you figure out what works best for you. 

Does hormonal birth control increase your risk of breast cancer? 

The answer is complex. If you take hormonal birth control like the pill or intrauterine device (IUD), research shows that your risk for breast cancer is specific to your current health, family, and personal medical history. In general, only a small percentage of breast cancer cases are due to genetics. If you do have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, there is a slight increased risk of breast cancer when taking hormonal birth control. 

More recent research has also found that there may also be an increased association of breast cancer for people who don’t have a gene for breast cancer. However, the risks seem to be minimal. If you’re concerned about your risk, consider seeking guidance from a health care professional.  

Why might hormonal birth control pills increase the risk of breast cancer? 

Hormonal birth control can increase the hormones in your body that regulate your menstrual cycle. As a result, increased levels of estrogen can cause breast tissue cells to multiply faster. This can increase the risks of mutations and potentially cancer. However, an increase in progesterone can amplify the effects of excess estrogen.  

While the risk of having an inherited genetic mutation only accounts for five to ten percent of breast cancer cases, those whose mom, sister, or daughter has had breast cancer may have a higher risk. Your health care provider can help you decide if genetic testing makes sense for you. 

What are alternative contraception options? 

Luckily, the pill is one of many effective birth control options out there. 

• Hormonal methods like the pill and IUD have varied associations with breast cancer. However, they have also been shown to be protective against endometrial and cervical cancers.  
• Non-hormonal options like the copper IUD aren’t associated with breast cancer risk and similarly offer protection against endometrial and cervical cancers.  
• Barrier methods like condoms and dental dams have no known links to cancer. That said, they do protect against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).  

To discuss your contraceptive options or get more information about your risk of breast cancer, you can make an appointment with a health care provider. In addition to helping you take the next steps, they can help you learn how to do a breast self-exam as an additional preventative step.  

There's no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to the pill and breast cancer risk. Thankfully , you have a large menu of contraceptives to choose from. Good luck finding the method that puts your mind (and love life) at ease!