Association of Combined Estrogen–Progestogen and Progestogen-Only Contraceptives with the Development of Cancer

Williams, William V.; Mitchell, Louise A.; Carlson, Stina; Raviele, Kathleen M.

doi:10.1177/0024363918811637

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 158 publications

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“…The bulk of this information has been published (Williams et al 2018). Significant findings are noted here.…”

Section: Cancermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, there is controversy about the extent to which these findings may be due to differences in sexual behavior and other factors.Noting that the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified COCs as Group I carcinogens (World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer 2012), a literature search as performed evaluating the published literature on this association. Papers were accessed from a PubMed literature review as noted (Williams et al 2018). Each paper was rated based on the parameters noted in the STROBE statement (von Elm et al 2007).…”

Section: Cancermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Noting that the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified COCs as Group I carcinogens (World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer 2012), a literature search as performed evaluating the published literature on this association. Papers were accessed from a PubMed literature review as noted (Williams et al 2018).…”

Section: Cancermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An effort was made to perform a series of comprehensive literature surveys to better understand immediate and long-term side effects of these agents. Some of these have been previously published (Peck and Norris 2012; Williams 2017; Keenan et al 2018; Williams et al 2018), while others are included here for the first time. Comparison of the scientific literature with the current prescribing information revealed that many of these risks, although well documented in the peer-reviewed literature, are not included in the prescribing information.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hormonally Active Contraceptives Part I: Risks Acknowledged and Unacknowledged

Williams

Brind

Haynes³

et al. 2021

Linacre Q

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Hormonal contraceptives have been on the market for over fifty years and, while their formulations have changed, the basic mechanism of action has remained the same. During this time, numerous studies have been performed documenting side effects, some of which appear over time, some within weeks or months, but all can have a serious impact on health and quality of life. An effort was made to perform a series of comprehensive literature surveys to better understand immediate and long-term side effects of these agents. The results of this literature review uncovered a number of potential side effects, some of which are acknowledged and many of which are not noted in the prescribing information for these agents. Among the unacknowledged side effects are: an increased risk of HIV transmission for depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), and for combination contraceptives breast cancer, cervical cancer, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, depression, mood disorders and suicides (especially among women twenty-five years of age and younger, in the first six months of use), multiple sclerosis, interstitial cystitis, female sexual dysfunction, osteoporotic bone fractures (especially for progesterone-only contraceptives), and fatty weight gain. Misleading prescribing information regarding cardiovascular and thrombotic risks are also noted. Women seeking birth control have a right to be informed and educated about risk avoidance through the use of effective nonhormonal methods like fertility awareness methods. In one case—that of DMPA—the increased risk of HIV acquisition has been conclusively demonstrated to be both real and unique to this drug. Considering the availability of numerous alternatives, there is no justification for the continued marketing of DMPA to the public. Summary: We reviewed the effect of hormonal contraceptives on women’s health. A number of potential side effects were noted including increased risks of breast cancer, cervical cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, cystitis, bone fractures, depression, mood disorders and suicides, fatty weight gain, and female sexual dysfunction. With the long-acting injectable contraceptives there is an increased risk of getting HIV. Misleading prescribing information regarding the risks of heart attacks, strokes and blood clotting problems were also noted. Women seeking birth control have a right to know about how to avoid these risks by using effective hormone-free Fertility Awareness Methods.

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“…The bulk of this information has been published (Williams et al 2018). Significant findings are noted here.…”

Section: Cancermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cancermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cancermentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Hormonally Active Contraceptives Part I: Risks Acknowledged and Unacknowledged

Williams

Brind

Haynes³

et al. 2021

Linacre Q

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The RR and OR for uterine cancer have been estimated to decrease on COCs (Williams et al 2018) with an overall OR of 0.76 over five years of use (Hüsing et al 2016, 51–60) or 0.95 per year of use (Collaborative Group on Epidemiological Studies on Endometrial Cancer 2015, 1061–70). The incidence of uterine cancer is estimated as 27.8 cases per 100,000 women per year with an estimated 793,846 women living with uterine cancer in the United States (estimated prevalence of 6.655 per 1,000 women; SEER n.d.d.).…”

Section: Patients Affected and Economic Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hormonally Active Contraceptives, Part II: Sociological, Environmental, and Economic Impact

Williams

Brind

Haynes³

et al. 2021

Linacre Q

Self Cite

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To investigate the sociological, environmental, and economic impact of hormonally active contraceptives, a series of comprehensive literature surveys were employed. Sociological effects are discussed including abortion, exploitation of women, a weakening of marriage, and an increase in divorce with deleterious effects on children such as child poverty, poorer health, lower educational achievement, suicide risks, drug and alcohol abuse, criminality, and incarceration, among others. The environmental impact is discussed briefly and includes the feminization and trans-gendering of male fish downstream from the effluent of city wastewater treatment plants with declining fish populations. The potential economic impact of most of these side effects is estimated based on epidemiologic data and published estimates of costs of caring for the diseases which are linked to the use of hormonally active contraceptives. Hormonally active contraceptives appear to have a deleterious impact on multiple aspects of women’s health as well as negative economic and environmental impacts. These risks can be avoided through the use of nonhormonal methods and need to be more clearly conveyed to the public. Summary: Hormonal contraceptives have wide-ranging effects. The potential economic impact of the medical side effects is estimated. Sociological effects are discussed including abortion, exploitation of women, a weakening of marriage and an increase in divorce with negative effects on children such as child poverty, poorer health, lower educational achievement, suicide risks, drug and alcohol abuse, criminality and incarceration among others. The environmental impact includes hormonal effects on fish with declining fish populations. Women seeking birth control have a right to know about how to avoid these risks by using effective hormone-free methods like Fertility Awareness Methods.

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