The pill

Taking the pill (combined contraceptive pill) slightly increases your risk of breast cancer. Ten years after stopping the pill this increased risk disappears and your chance of developing breast cancer will be about the same as that of a women who has never taken the pill.

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Remember, breast cancer is rare in women under 40, regardless of whether or not they use the pill.

Over the past 30 years, the levels of the female hormone oestrogen in the combined pill have decreased. It is not yet clear whether the modern, low doses in the combined pill are associated with the same breast cancer risk as the older, higher dose pills.

We don’t yet know whether or not there is a link between other hormone-based contraception and breast cancer, such as the progestogen-only pill (or ‘mini-pill’), contraceptive implants and the hormone-containing coil (levenorgesterol intrauternine system [IUS]).

If you are thinking of taking, or stopping , the pill, speak to your doctor. The decision to use the pill needs to be an informed choice, made by you, with the help of your doctor or family planning clinic. You should think about the pros and cons of taking the pill, medical history, your lifestyle and individual preferences and alternative methods of contraception.

For more information see our fact sheet The pill and breast cancer risk: the facts.

Information last reviewed: 1 November 2011