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Study Links Hormonal IUDs to Slightly Increased Breast Cancer Risk in Young Women
Copenhagen, Denmark — A recent study from the Danish Cancer Institute has found that hormone-releasing intrauterine devices (IUDs) may be associated with a slightly higher risk of breast cancer among young women. The large-scale study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), has prompted health professionals to reconsider the risks and benefits of hormonal contraceptives.
The research examined health outcomes for around 79,000 women, aged 15 to 49, who used hormonal IUDs, such as the Mirena coil, compared to a similar group of women who did not use any form of hormonal birth control. The women were monitored over an average of 6.8 years. While the overall risk of developing breast cancer remained low, the study found that hormonal IUD users faced a slightly higher risk—about 14 additional cases of breast cancer per 10,000 women.
Hormonal IUDs, which release a progesterone-like hormone to prevent pregnancy, are commonly used across Europe, with about 8.1% of reproductive-age women relying on this form of contraception. Unlike copper IUDs, which do not involve hormones, devices like the Mirena coil work by slowly releasing hormones directly into the uterus. Many medical professionals had previously believed this localized hormone release posed a lower risk of breast cancer compared to oral contraceptive pills, which expose the body to higher levels of hormones.
However, the new findings challenge this assumption. “The results of this study are highly unexpected,” said Dr. Channa Jayasena, a reproductive endocrinologist at Imperial College London, who was not involved in the research.
The study has limitations, as it did not account for lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity, all of which are known breast cancer risk factors. These unmeasured variables could influence the study’s results, but the data has nonetheless raised concerns.
Doctors and researchers are now advising that healthcare providers include potential breast cancer risks when discussing hormonal IUDs with patients. “My advice for women is that breast cancer risk caused by [IUDs] is not established but warrants a closer look,” Jayasena added.
This is not the first study to suggest a link between hormonal contraceptives and breast cancer. Last year, researchers at the University of Oxford found that progestogen-only contraceptives, regardless of their form, were associated with a slight increase in breast cancer risk. Experts suggest that the increased risk from IUDs may be similar to that posed by oral contraceptives.
Despite the findings, there remains broad medical consensus that the benefits of hormonal contraception outweigh the risks. Dr. Mangesh Thorat, a breast cancer surgeon and researcher at Queen Mary University of London, noted that certain types of IUDs have been shown to reduce the risks of cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers.
Thorat also highlighted that contraceptive risks change with age, suggesting that women nearing 40 should consider non-hormonal alternatives in consultation with their healthcare providers.
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