Link Between Oral Contraceptive Use and Cervical Cancer

Researcher from Cancer Research UK in Oxford, have found that oral contraceptive use is associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer, but further research is needed to determine how long the risk remains after drug discontinuation.

Researchers gathered results from 28 studies involving 12,531 women between 1966 and 2002 which included information about oral contraceptive use and the risk of cervical cancer.

They found that the risk of cervical cancer was directly related to the duration of oral contraceptive use. Compared to non-use, use of drugs for less than 5 years had a 10% increased risk, 5 to 9 years a 60% increased risk and at least 10 years was tied to a 120% increased risk of cervical cancer. The contraceptive-related risk of cancer was even higher in women with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. In these women, even just a few years of use was associated with a 90% increased risk of cervical cancer.

(Source: The Lancet 2003;361:1159-1167.)