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Oral Contraceptives and Breast Cancer (1991) / Chapter Skim
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4. Information for Users of the Pill and Health Care Providers
Pages 55-60

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From page 55...
... In the United States, it is a major factor in preventing unintended pregnancy and induced abortion. Aside from their extraordinary effectiveness as contraceptives, oral contraceptives have been shown to have numerous noncontraceptive benefits (Table 4-1~.
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From page 56...
... . anon Increases Yes protection increases as duration increases Unknown Yes protection increases as progestin increases Unknown Probably not Probably not Probably not aBased on hospital admissions data.
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From page 57...
... The relative risk of venous thrombosis for current users is an estimated 5 times that for nonusers, with a low absolute risk. It seems that venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are related mostly to the pill's estrogenic component, whereas other cardiovascular complications relate primarily to the progestin component.
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From page 58...
... elevated postmenopausal weight. Despite the effectiveness of the pill as a contraceptive agent, its numerous noncontraceptive benefits, and evidence that the cumulative risk of breast cancer through at least age 45 appears to have no relationship to pill use, significant uncertainty and concern remain.
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From page 59...
... PRESCRIBING PROBLEMS Health professionals must provide concise, accurate counsel to their patients based on a clear, current understanding of the balance of benefits and risks of pill use and the user's health and sociocultural status. The absolute contraindications to pill use, as they appear in the patient package insert, are: undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding; presence or history of breast or liver malignancy; thromboembolic disorders; cerebrovascular disease; myocardial infarction; known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasia; and known or suspected pregnancy.
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From page 60...
... Adequate information and supportive counseling will help each woman sort through her own, unique situation. Although the possibility exists that younger pill users may have increased risk of breast cancer prior to first full-term birth, based on the current state of knowledge as to the benefit/risk ratio of pill use, the committee recommends no fundamental change in prescribing practice for oral contraceptives at this time.
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Key Terms

  • breast cancer
  • pill users
  • increased risk
  • venous thrombosis
  • oral contraceptive

  • noncontraceptive benefits
  • package insert
  • late age
  • percent believed
  • duration increases

  • numerous noncontraceptive
  • ectopic pregnancy
  • consumer perception
  • american woman
  • ovarian tumors

  • concern remain
  • abnormal metabolic
  • thromboembolic disorders
  • possibility exists
  • control methods

  • abnormal genital
  • recommended removal
  • prospective study
  • recent epidemiological
  • pulmonary embolism

  • liver disease
  • hemorrhagic stroke
  • family history
  • ratio relative
  • cancer prior


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