Cancer Treatment Options Forum - December 21st, 2010 - 3 Comments
Contraception – does the contraceptive implant cause cancer?
I’m 21 and I have an implant in my arm to stop me getting pregnant. I’ve been trying to find out if it will increase my chance of getting cancer. The family planning clinic doctor said there’s no connection between the implant and cancer, but I’ve heard from a lot of other sources that the hormones in implants can make you 40% more likely to get cancer. I have a history of breast cancer in my family, I have children and a career that I would like to carry on until I’m quite old, I don’t want to die! I’m really worried about this. Any information on opinions will be helpful, – please reply!!
Thanks,
Beth
No.
Most of the studies that suggest a link with endometrial cancer found a connection with estrogen, not the progestins found in either Depo-Provera or Norplant (the two contraceptive implants). Progestins are actually added to estrogen in "combination" birth control pills in part because it actually seems to _reduce_ the risk of cancer from the estrogen.
However, Depo-Provera was involved in a very long FDA controversy in the US over some research the initially suggested a link with breast and endometrial cancer. Since it was in use all over the world at the time, though, the FDA finally relented, in part because much of the later research either disproved or failed to support this connection.
Hi beth – I also heard those statistic’s, and talked to my doctor, who said it was just an urban myth. He believes made up by other birth control companies, trying to save their own butt’s!!
I am also 21, and have had an implant for 8 months. It took me a long time for it to click with my body, but persisting with it (despite the break thru periods, and annoying times) was well worth the piece of mind I now have.
Hope that helps. Good luck with your children, your career, and the future!
Yes, it causes cancer. That’s why its still on the market. *sighs*