Contraception
Volume 76, Issue 6 , Pages 418-424, December 2007

Oral contraceptives and benign breast disease: an update of findings in a large cohort study

Unit of Health Care Epidemiology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, United Kingdom

Received 16 May 2007; received in revised form 14 August 2007; accepted 23 August 2007. published online 12 November 2007.

Abstract 

Background

This report is an update of findings, first reported in 1981, on the relationship between oral contraceptives (OCs) and benign breast disease with special reference to OCs containing <50 mcg estrogen.

Study Design

The Oxford-Family Planning Association study includes 17,032 women using different methods of contraception recruited at 17 family planning clinics between 1968 and 1974. These women were subsequently followed up until mid-1994. Among other items, information about contraceptive method changes and morbidity as measured by hospital referrals was collected during follow-up.

Results

The findings in the present analysis were broadly similar to those reported in 1981, but based on much larger numbers of cases [fibroadenoma (FA), 185 cases; chronic cystic disease (CCD), 1361 cases; breast lump with no specific diagnosis (BL), 650 cases]. Hospital referral rates for FA and CCD (but not BL) declined with increasing duration of OC use, with the effect being strongest among recent users. The apparent protective effect was present for women using OCs containing >50 mcg, 50 mcg and <50 mcg estrogen but not for progestogen-only OCs.

Conclusion

Low-dose combined OCs containing <50 mcg estrogen appear to reduce the risk of hospitalization for FA and CCD as well as older preparations containing higher doses of estrogen.

Keywords: Oral contraceptives, Benign breast disease, Chronic cystic disease, Fibroadenoma, Cohort study

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

 We are deeply grateful to the Medical Research Council for funding the Oxford-Family Planning Association study.

PII: S0010-7824(07)00415-5

doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2007.08.011

Contraception
Volume 76, Issue 6 , Pages 418-424, December 2007