Do birth control pills raise cancer risk?

Does taking oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) increase the risk of developing certain cancers? Obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Raul Quillamor cleared the air in an interview for Pinoy MD.

Quillamor first explained that the OCPs available in the market today have a significantly lower dose than those available several decades years ago.

"Ngayon kasi, low dose na sila. Ibig sabihin, mababa na 'yung dose ng estrogen at mababa na 'yung dose ng progesterone. Hindi tulad noong mga 1960s, 1970s na high estrogen ang component ng OCPs na 'yan," he said.

There was a higher incidence of breast cancer among women who took combination OCPs or pills that contained both estrogen and progesterone. By the '80s or '90s, the dosage was reduced.

Studies have shown that there is still a link between taking OCPs and an increased chance of developing breast cancer. However, studies have also shown that taking OCPs decreases the chance of developing other cancers.

"Kapag tinitingnan natin ang overall effect ng OCPs, mas mataas 'yung benefits over the risks. Ang benefits nito, aside from the contraceptive effect, mayroon ding protective effect ang OCPs sa ovarian [cancer] and cancer ng lining ng endometrium," Quillamor said.

The US National Cancer Institute confirms that the risk of developing endometrial and ovarian cancer is reduced with the use of OCPs, but the risk of developing breast, cervical, and liver cancer increases.

The studies cited in the website are from 1989 to 1996.

Non-profit organization Breastcancer.org acknowledges the findings in previous studies, but cited additional studies from 2002 to 2014.

More recent studies find that OCPs that have a lower dosage of estrogen were not linked to a higher breast cancer risk for an "average woman younger than 50 with no family history of breast cancer and no abnormal breast cancer genes."

Older women and women with a history of breast cancer in the family or women who have previously been diagnosed with breast cancer should consult with their doctor for alternative methods of contraception. — Aya Tantiangco/BM, GMA News