Birth Control ups Breast Cancer Risk

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Dr. Kahlenborn is an internist and doesn't usually work on family planning with his patients. He does, however, recommend the Billings method when his patients ask. This method is based on changes in cervical mucus when a woman is fertile. When women recognize a change in their natural lubrication, they know they are close to ovulation and it's possible they will conceive if they have sex.

In an editorial accompanying Dr. Kahlenborn's study, James Cerhan, M.D., from the Mayo Clinic of Epidemiology in Rochester, Minn., raises a few questions about this research. While he agrees the evidence shows there is some kind of link between breast cancer and contraceptives, he writes all risks and benefits of oral contraceptives must be weighed against one another.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: Ivanhoe interview with Chris Kahlenborn, M.D., Altoona Hospital, Altoona, Penn.; Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2006;81:1290-1302:1287-2189