Global attention has returned to the birth control pill following classification guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and its cancer research arm, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which lists combined oral contraceptives as a Group 1 carcinogen, reports Cape {town} Etc.
In IARC’s system, Group 1 means there is sufficient evidence that an agent can cause cancer in humans. IARC’s classifications list combined estrogen-progestogen oral contraceptives under breast and uterine cervix cancers, and its site also places them in the liver-cancer category.
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The agency says its monographs assess hazard, not personal risk, which is an important distinction when reading health claims online.
The WHO says oral contraceptive pills ‘protect against some cancers but raise the risk of others’ and recommends counselling that takes family and medical history into account. It also notes that most women do not face an increased breast cancer risk, although women with inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations may face a higher risk with long-term use.
The post has revived a long-running health discussion. Oral contraceptives can carry risks and benefits, so any decision about them should be based on a conversation with a clinician and a woman’s own history.
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