The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7243 p464
5 April 2003

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The Lancet (www.thelancet.com)

Link between length of oral contraceptive use and risk of cervical cancer confirmed

A potential link between extended use of oral contraceptives and an increased risk of cervical cancer has been confirmed. However, more research is needed to establish the extent to which women remain at increased risk after they stop taking oral contraceptives.

Researchers analysed data from 28 published studies involving 12,531 women with cervical cancer. They found that, compared with women who had never taken oral contraceptives, women who took oral contraceptives for five years or less had a 10 per cent relative increase in risk of cervical cancer. This increased to 60 per cent for five to nine years of use and doubled for use of 10 years or more.

The results were broadly similar for invasive, in situ, squamous and adenocarcinoma of the cervix, in studies adjusted for human papillomavirus status, number of sexual partners, cervical screening, smoking and barrier contraceptive use (Lancet 2003;361:1159).