Injectable Birth Control, Depo-Provera, Increases Breast Cancer

You know those birth control commercials that try to convince you that you can?t possibly remember to take the Pill every day, so instead you should opt for the ?once every three month? injection? Well, according to new research, one of these contraceptive shots?the depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA)?may spare you an unwanted pregnancy from forgetting to take the Pill, but it could double your chances of getting breast cancer.

More commonly referred to as Depo-Provera which is? injected into the buttocks or upper arm once every 3 months, or just under the skin once every 12 to 14 weeks, this shot contains progestin, the same hormone used in a menopausal therapy that has previously been found to increase risk for breast cancer. So it?s not all that surprising that it has now been found to increase our risk of getting breast cancer by more than 100%.

Not surprising, yes, but still unsettling because there is already so much confusion in the reproductive world about what is safe for our bodies and what could potentially be causing more harm.

Published in the April 15 issue of Cancer Research, the study included over 1,000 young women diagnosed with breast cancer. Approximately 10% of those women reported using Depo-Provera. Using that injection for at least a year increased their risk for breast cancer 2.2 times greater than those who did not use the injectable birth control. On the other hand, women who had used DMPA for less than a year or had stopped using it more than a year ago did not have an increased risk, suggesting that discontinuing use may be effective.

So does this mean all birth control pills and injections can increase our risk of breast cancer?

According to several studies, women using oral contraceptives do have an increased risk of breast cancer, especially among younger women. However, the risk level goes back to normal 10 years or more after discontinuing oral contraceptive use. The Pill has also been linked with a higher rate of cervical cancer, although that could be because sexually active women have a higher risk of becoming infected with human papillomavirus, which causes virtually all cervical cancers.

We will have to see if any further research comes out about other injectible birth controls besides Depo-Provera, but it?s probably safe to assume that, because it contains hormones, it most likely carries similar risks.

To add to the confusion, these same oral birth control methods have been shown to reduce the risks of ovarian and endometrial cancer, along with a possible increased risk of benign liver tumors.

Your best bet? Avoid hormone birth control methods if you are not completely sure and comfortable with their risks. And as always, talk to your doctor about the best option for you.

?

Photo: fooyah.com

?

alabama lsu bcs national championship bcs national championship 2012 bcs championship lsu vs alabama university of alabama national championship game