2024-10-17 13:06:00
A new study has established a link between this method of contraception and an increased risk of cancer. We’ll explain it to you.
This type of IUD increases the risk of breast cancer
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Are some women at greater risk of breast cancer than others? A scientific study Danish study published October 16 in the journal JAMA warns those who use a particular type of IUD.
The researchers compared 78,595 Danish women aged 15 to 49 who used levonorgestrel IUDs with 78,595 women with a similar profile but who did not use these devices. Results ? Those whose method of contraception was the hormonal IUD had a 40% increased risk of developing breast cancer.
Nothing to panic about. Despite this increase in risk, breast cancer remains a rare pathology in women under 50 and extremely rare in women under 30. This is what midwife Sophia R. confirmed to us (@mammary fertility team on Instagram).
The study suggests a slight increase in the risk of breast cancer with the use of the hormonal IUD, as has already been shown with other hormonal contraceptives. However, this risk remains low and reversible upon stopping treatment. For many women, the benefits remain greater than the risks; each situation is unique and must be assessed with a healthcare professional on a case-by-case basis.
According to the specialist, apart from patients with a family history or genetic risks of breast cancer, the advantages of the hormonal IUD – contraceptive effect, and reduction of menstrual bleeding, particularly in cases of endometriosis – are therefore always more significant than the risk. cancerous.
Contraception and cancer risk
However, this is not the first time that a link has been established between contraceptives and the risk of developing cancer. In 2021, research had already shown that women using hormonal contraception (pill, IUD or implant) had an increased risk of around 20% to 30% of developing breast cancer.
But here again, Gillian Reeves, professor at the University of Oxford and co-author of the study, declared during a press conference that this was a “very small risk in terms of absolute risk” . Overall, these types of contraception remain very advantageous in terms of contraceptive safety, but also because they offer “fairly significant and long-term protection against other cancers in women, such as ovarian and endometrial cancer.” , reassured Gillian Reeves.
We are also well aware of the risks regarding combined pills, that is to say containing both a progestin and an estrogen. According to the National Cancer Institute, “a woman taking the combined pill appears to slightly increase her risk of breast cancer”, and “using a combined pill long term, i.e. 5 years or more would increase the risk of cervical cancer.” However, according to numerous studies, these risks decrease shortly after women stop using these contraceptives.
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