Introduction:
The most notable advantage of oral contraceptives is their exceptionally high level of effectiveness, practicality, and reversibility in preventing unintended pregnancy. From a medical perspective, women in developing nations are most interested in the pill's efficacy. The pill benefits not only maternal health but also the survival and health of infants by reducing unintended pregnancies and allowing women to space out their births. Oral contraceptives contain a wide range of advantages and disadvantages in addition to preventing conception. The incidence of menstrual issues (including dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia), iron-deficiency anemia, pelvic inflammatory disease, functional ovarian cysts, benign breast disease, epithelial ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer is decreased as a result of combination oral contraceptives.
The considerable preventive effects of the pill against ovarian and endometrial malignancies are particularly significant because they seem to last in former users for at least 15 years after discontinuing oral contraception. The tendency of combination oral contraceptives to cause cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction, thrombotic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and venous thrombosis and embolism is one of their most significant side effects. Luckily, these side effects are few and are mostly limited to existing oral contraceptive users.
What Are Oral Contraceptives?
Oral contraceptives, sometimes known as birth control pills, are hormonally-rich drugs that are taken internally to prevent conception. Inhibiting ovulation and stopping sperm from entering the cervix are two ways they prevent pregnancy. The synthetic forms of the feminine hormones progesterone and estrogen are included in the oral contraceptive, which is the most often prescribed in the United States. A combination oral contraceptive is another name for this kind of birth control pill. A different kind of oral contraceptive frequently called the micro pill, solely contains progestin, a synthetic counterpart of progesterone. Progesterone and estrogen are hormones that are synthesized and found in the majority of birth control pills. A small pill is a form of birth control pill that only contains synthetic progesterone, also known as progestin. A tablet containing both hormones is referred to as a combined oral contraceptive.
The hormones in the pill prevent the body from ovulating or releasing an egg. Moreover, they alter the cervical mucous and uterine lining. This works together to stop sperm from fertilizing an egg during sexual contact. When used correctly, birth control pills can prevent conception 99 percent of the time. They are taken at the same time each day. Birth control tablets stop pregnancy and reduce period discomfort, stop ovarian cysts, control menstrual cycles, and many other health advantages. Birth control pills do, however, have several side effects and hazards, just like any prescription.
What Is Known About the Relationship Between Oral Contraceptive Use and Cancer?
Women who use oral contraceptives run a higher risk of breast and cervical cancer but a lower risk of endometrial, ovarian, and colorectal cancer. Longer duration of oral contraceptive use lowers chances for ovarian and endometrial malignancies; however, current oral contraceptive use is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. There is mounting evidence that many malignancies in women may have a hormonal origin. Birth control pills, often known as oral contraceptives, are hormone-containing drugs used to prevent pregnancy. Estrogen and progestin are two hormones that are used in the formulation of birth control pills.
Hormonal contraceptives, such as birth control tablets and intrauterine devices (IUDs), marginally increase the risk of breast cancer. However, the significance of the increase in risk varies with each woman and is determined by a variety of factors, including:
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Age.
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Overall health.
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Other breast cancer risk factors include smoking, consuming alcohol, and keeping a healthy weight.
According to studies, older kinds of hormonal birth control with higher hormone levels were associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Newer kinds of contraception with lower hormone levels were deemed safer, although all included caution in the instructions that they could increase cancer risk. It is critical to understand that if one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, one should not use hormone-based contraception. There is some evidence that hormonal contraception may raise the chance of cancer recurrence (recurrence). Many women worldwide share the need for safe, efficient birth control. Around 140 million women use hormonal contraception globally. In addition to successfully preventing unintended pregnancies, birth control tablets also aid in managing other conditions like acne, PMS, heavy periods, and mood swings. Birth control tablets have also been demonstrated in studies to marginally reduce the incidence of ovarian and uterine cancer. Additionally, some evidence suggests that birth control tablets may lower the incidence of colorectal cancer.
How Oral Contraceptives Lowers the Risks of Some Cancers?
It has been proposed that oral contraceptives may reduce the risk of some cancers in a variety of ways, including:
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Inhibiting endometrial cell proliferation and preventing endometrial cancer.
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Reducing the number of ovulations a woman has in her lifetime, thereby reducing exposure to naturally occurring female hormones and preventing the risk of ovarian cancer.
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Decreasing bile acid levels in women taking oral conjugated estrogens prevents colorectal cancer.
Conclusion:
In the United States, skin and breast cancer are the two most prevalent cancers in which women are diagnosed. It has been established that oral contraceptives that contain hormones can affect the chance of developing cancer because they alter how cells divide and differentiate. For instance, it has been demonstrated that both estrogen and progestin promote cell division in breast tissue. All forms of birth control enhance a woman's risk of breast cancer to the point that delaying her first pregnancy is necessary. Discussing the optimal method of birth control with the medical staff is vital because all drugs, including oral contraceptives, might have side effects.
