Oral Contraceptives and Melanoma Risk in Young Women
Author Information
Author(s): V. Beral, S. Evans, H. Shaw, G. Milton
Primary Institution: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; The University of Sydney
Hypothesis
Does prolonged use of oral contraceptives increase the risk of malignant melanoma in young women?
Conclusion
Prolonged use of oral contraceptives for 5 years or more, starting at least 10 years before diagnosis, may increase the risk of malignant melanoma by 50%.
Supporting Evidence
- Women with melanoma were more likely to have taken oral contraceptives for long periods.
- The relative risk for those who used oral contraceptives for 5 years or more was 1.5.
- The risk persisted after controlling for various confounding factors.
- Similar findings were reported in other studies regarding long-term oral contraceptive use.
Takeaway
Using birth control pills for a long time might make young women more likely to get skin cancer after many years.
Methodology
A case control study involving 287 women with malignant melanoma and 574 matched controls, using interviews and questionnaires to gather data.
Potential Biases
There is a low risk of bias as data on oral contraceptive use were corroborated with clinic records.
Limitations
The study may not account for all potential confounding factors and relied on self-reported data.
Participant Demographics
287 white women aged 15-24 years with malignant melanoma and 574 matched controls.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.05
Confidence Interval
1.03 to 2.14
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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