Question about BCP's

[Susie]

I had a physical this morning, and when we were reviewing medications that I'm on, I told my doctor that the BCPs were off the list; as of recently I'm not taking them anymore.  She asked why (I felt really stupid giving what seemed like an obvious answer).  Then she asked me, pretty pointedly, whether I was going back on them afterwards.  She might have even phrased it as, you're going to, right?  Uh... I don't know?  I haven't thought that far ahead?  I'm not even pregnant yet. 

She has apparently read research indicating that being on BCPs (i.e. not ovulating regularly) is either correlated with or causes (I am not sure which) lower instances of ovarian cancer.  My mom has incurable ovarian cancer, and was dx'ed relatively young, which is why this would be of potential interest.

Out of idle curiosity, since it's not going to change anything that I'm doing right now:  have any of you been counseled similarly or seen any research to this effect?

[Deleted]

Well not as a patient, but as a med student (and of particular interest to me since I'm going in to obgyn) we have learned that women who use bcps have decreased risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer. It's not one of the first things that's brought up when I'm talking to a patient about pros and cons of bcps, but I've seen it asked about and discussed before.

[ebeth]

I have seen research to this effect. I haven't looked into it recently but I think the general consensus is that less ovulation is associated with a lower cancer risk because you see the same effects with women who have lots of kids, BF, were late to start their periods, etc.

It might be a benefit to consider if you've got family hx of ovarian cancer. I personally have not been advised as such (haven't been advised against either though).

[Deleted]

There's a decent amount of research to support the correlation between BCP use and decreased risk in ovarian cancers. The reason likely boils down to regulation, rather than letting the body regulate itself - which is where you can run into the loss of regulation, and thus cancerous growth.

That said, if you want to have kids, you have to go off of them! That part is pretty well supported, scientifically

So just plan on going back on it afterwards.

[Mushe]

@wandering or anyone else - would the same be true of Mirena, since it's hormonal? I was on BCP forever, but switched to Mirena after I had #1, and find it so easy that I'd planned to go the IUD route again.

[Deleted]

Yes, my doctor has mentioned this to me before

[ghostmonkey]

Sept 17, 2014 13:32:56 GMT -5 Mushe said:

@wandering or anyone else - would the same be true of Mirena, since it's hormonal? I was on BCP forever, but switched to Mirena after I had #1, and find it so easy that I'd planned to go the IUD route again.

There have been some studies done with endometrial cancer that have had good results with hormonal IUDs. Not a ton of research on them with ovarian cancer, but since they tend to respond in a similar fashion, it should yield similar results.

[Deleted]

Sept 17, 2014 15:22:23 GMT -5 ghostmonkey said:

Sept 17, 2014 13:32:56 GMT -5 Mushe said:

@wandering or anyone else - would the same be true of Mirena, since it's hormonal? I was on BCP forever, but switched to Mirena after I had #1, and find it so easy that I'd planned to go the IUD route again.

There have been some studies done with endometrial cancer that have had good results with hormonal IUDs. Not a ton of research on them with ovarian cancer, but since they tend to respond in a similar fashion, it should yield similar results.

Since the IUD is local and progesterone only, while most ocps tested are combined estrogen and progesterone, I wouldn't be surprised if there were differences. I believe that there have been a couple of older studies in regards to IUDs and ovarian cancer that were contradictory because one showed increased risk and one showed decreased risk. Hopefully more research provides more answers.