These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: IPPF statement on oral contraceptives and cancer of the breast.
    Author: International Planned Parenthood Federation IPPF. International Medical Advisory Panel IMAP.
    Journal: IPPF Med Bull; 1989 Apr; 23(2):4. PubMed ID: 12342374.
    Abstract:
    The 1989 statement issued by the International Medical Advisory Panel (IMAP) concluded that no overall effect of oral contraceptives (OCs) on breast cancer is demonstrable from the studies conducted since 1980. However, some studies have suggested an adverse association in women whose breast cancer was diagnosed before the age of 45, who used OCs for a long period of time, or who started them before the age of 25 and/or before their 1st full-term pregnancy. 3 recent publications have received much publicity. Kay and Hannaford suggest an increased risk among women aged 30-34, and Stadel et al., suggest an increased risk among nulliparous women who experienced menarche before age 13 and who used OCs for 8 or more years. Neither of these studies showed an overall effect of OCs on breast cancer. However, Miller et al. suggest a 2-fold rise in the risk of breast cancer among previous users of combined OCs who are under 45 years. The diversity of such results renders them inconclusive. Furthermore, the studies which have been done so far mainly included women who began using OCs in the 1960s and 1970s when larger doses of estrogen and progestagen were common. Continued research is needed to resolve the contradictory findings of previous studies, to study the new formulations now in use, and to achieve a better understanding of the biological factors underlying the development of breast cancer. While acknowledging concern about continued controversy, IMAP does not presently recommend any changes in OC use. When counselling women, service providers should present the risks of OCs, as well as the benefits (such as, prevention of pregnancy, endometrial and ovarian cancer, ectopic pregnancy, and acute pelvic inflammatory disease). IMAP will continue to closely monitor developments surrounding this issue.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]