Can Using Birth Control Lower Your Colorectal Cancer Risk?
Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer that targets your digestive tract, particularly your colon and rectum and it is the fourth most common type of cancer in both men and women in the U.S. Colorectal cancer screening in the United States is done once an individual reaches the age of 45 and since there are several screening tests that can be done, patients can choose which method is most appropriate for them. Using screening tests allows doctors to catch any signs of colorectal cancer because this type of cancer almost always develops from abnormal cell growth within the colon and/or rectum, making it easier to prevent cancer from developing in the first place. There are several risk factors that make someone more likely to develop colorectal cancer, including having inflammatory bowel disease, eating a low fiber diet, and tobacco use.
Oral contraceptives are commonly used by premenopausal people during their fertile years to prevent pregnancy and/or treat reproductive disorders.14% of American women aged 15-49 years old are currently using oral contraceptives. Oral contraceptives contain synthetic versions of estrogen and a progesterone, two hormones that the body naturally makes during the menstrual cycle, to prevent ovulation from occurring which prevents pregnancy. Estrogen and progesterone impact physiology in many ways - such as making bones, increasing metabolism, and regulating mood - so manipulating their levels within the body through the use of oral contraceptives can impact physiology as well. For example, it is well established that taking oral contraceptives can decrease one’s risk of developing endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer through possibly reducing the amount of times someone ovulates and endometrial cells have to grow.
Oral contraceptives are commonly used by premenopausal people during their fertile years to prevent pregnancy and/or treat reproductive disorders.14% of American women aged 15-49 years old are currently using oral contraceptives. Oral contraceptives contain synthetic versions of estrogen and a progesterone, two hormones that the body naturally makes during the menstrual cycle, to prevent ovulation from occurring which prevents pregnancy. Estrogen and progesterone impact physiology in many ways - such as making bones, increasing metabolism, and regulating mood - so manipulating their levels within the body through the use of oral contraceptives can impact physiology as well. For example, it is well established that taking oral contraceptives can decrease one’s risk of developing endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer through possibly reducing the amount of times someone ovulates and endometrial cells have to grow.
Even though colorectal cancer is the fourth common cancer between both males and females in the United States there are several things that one can do to lower their chances of developing the condition. Eating a healthy diet with plenty of dietary fiber, exercising, lowering alcohol consumption, and refraining from smoking tobacco can significantly reduce this risk.
Image Source: Alexander Grey
There is research that shows that oral contraception is associated with lowered rates of colorectal cancer; however, it is unknown whether this decrease is due to taking oral contraceptives or other reasons that are not related to the medication. A group of researchers sought to address this gap by reviewing past conducted cohort studies and case-studies that focused on the cancer outcomes of individuals that used oral contraceptives in a study. This allowed the researchers to isolate the association between colorectal cancer and oral contraception use, which observational studies are not able to do. In order to diversify the data pool, the researchers used studies from all over the world to ensure. made sure not to use studies that were only from one country, as they used studies from all over the world. After conducting their analysis, the study found a moderate effect of using oral contraceptives on the development of large intestine cancer. However, they could not determine if the time spent taking the medication influenced large intestine cancer development. The study hypothesized several reasons why there is this association between oral contraceptives and colorectal cancer development. Using birth control is known to reduce the levels of bile acids in the colon, which an increased level can increase one’s risk for developing colorectal cancer. It is important to note that this study has a couple limitations. The reproductive history in several studies was self-reported, which can result in self-reported bias. Talk more about the limitations.
Featured Image Source: Anna Tarazevich
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