Accounts by some medical content makers have raised widespread concerns among women, after a recent report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer was circulated regarding the classification of combined birth control pills among the first group of cancer-causing agents. The classification was presented in some publications as if it meant that the use of these pills inevitably leads to cancer.
But the scientific picture is more complex than that.
Potential risks…and inaccurate interpretation
The report of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, affiliated with the World Health Organization, is correct in its content, but interpreting it to mean that every woman who used combined birth control pills will develop cancer involves exaggeration and confusion in understanding the nature of the classification.
The beginning of the issue dates back to 2007, when the agency published a report on the potential side effects of some types of combined contraceptives that contain the hormones estrogen and progesterone, and it identified types of cancer whose risk may increase or decrease among users of these methods.
But the report did not specify the possibility of cancer for every woman who uses these pills.
In May 2026, the International Agency for Research on Cancer listed combined contraceptive pills containing estrogen and progestin as Group 1 carcinogenic agents, noting their association with breast and cervical cancer.
At the same time, the report cautioned that the evaluation does not include some factors that were not covered by the agency’s research, including genetic and reproductive traits, health status, and some nutritional factors.
What does medical classification mean?
Dr. Amr Hassan, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, and a member of the World Health Organization’s technical advisory group concerned with assessing maternal mortality and its causes, says that the controversy surrounding the classification of some hormonal contraceptives and their relationship to cancer reveals a problem greater than simply interpreting a scientific term, which is how to convey medical information to women without concealing the danger, and at the same time without turning it into a source of panic.
Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, Hassan explained that the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s classification of some combined hormonal contraceptives does not mean that every woman who uses birth control pills will inevitably develop cancer.
The presence of an association with an increased risk of some types of cancer does not negate another scientific fact, which is that the use of oral contraceptives is also associated with a reduced risk of other types, most notably ovarian and endometrial cancer.
He pointed out that studies on oral contraceptives and cancer span decades, and that the relationship cannot be simply reduced to “causes cancer” or “does not cause cancer.”
Risks and benefits of birth control pills
According to World Health Organization reports in December 2025, some birth control pills provide health benefits beyond preventing pregnancy, as they may help reduce the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer, anemia, menstrual pain, bleeding problems, and ovulation pain, along with some symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis.
The organization explains that the relationship between combined oral contraceptive pills and cancer is complex, as these pills help prevent ovarian and endometrial cancer, and this protective effect increases the longer the period of use.
On the other hand, women who use oral contraceptive pills are more likely to develop cervical cancer than those who do not use them.
As for breast cancer, most women do not face an increased risk, but women with inherited genetic mutations may be more susceptible, especially with long-term use.
What do the numbers say?
According to the US National Cancer Institute, an analysis of data from more than 150,000 women who participated in 54 epidemiological studies showed that women who had previously used oral contraceptives had a slight increase of 7% in the risk of breast cancer compared to those who had never used them.
As for women who were using oral contraceptives at the time of the studies, their increased risk was 24%, and the percentage did not increase with the length of the period of use. The risk also decreased after stopping the use of pills, and there was no increase in the risk of infection 10 years after stopping.
On the other hand, data showed that women who had previously used oral contraceptives were less likely to develop endometrial cancer compared to those who had never used them, as the risk decreased by at least 30%, and this decrease increased the longer the period of use.
This protective effect is not limited to the period of taking the pills, but rather continues for years after stopping them.
Regarding ovarian cancer, data from the US National Cancer Institute indicate that women who have previously used oral contraceptives are 30% to 50% less likely to develop it than those who have never used them.
Protection increases with the length of the period of use, and may continue for up to 30 years after stopping taking the pills.
This discrepancy between the high risk of some cancers and the low risk of others reflects the reason why the World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of providing personal medical advice on contraceptive methods, taking into account the family and medical history of each woman.
Should women stop taking birth control pills?
Mass cessation of the use of birth control pills for fear of cancer may in turn entail significant health and social risks.
The World Health Organization says that oral contraceptives are not only one of the most effective means of preventing unwanted and high-risk pregnancies, but they also represent an important achievement in the field of public health, because of their role in improving women’s health, reducing maternal mortality, and supporting education and economic opportunities.
Dr. Amr Hassan confirms that suddenly stopping an effective method of contraception due to a post circulating on social media may not be a sound health decision, because the decision is not related to the medication alone, but rather to the woman who uses it.
He added, “There is no ideal contraceptive method for all women, but there can be a suitable method for this woman at this stage of her life.”
He explained that choosing a contraceptive method must be based on medical history, risk factors, age, health condition, and reproductive needs, in addition to the woman’s desire and preferences after obtaining the correct medical information.
He stressed that the doctor’s task is not to make the decision in place of the woman, but rather to provide her with information that enables her to choose.
He pointed out that there are cases that may make some hormonal methods inappropriate, explaining that the presence of current breast cancer, for example, requires a different evaluation and selection of other methods in accordance with medical guidelines.
Hassan believes that family planning is not limited to reducing the number of births, but rather represents a part of women’s health and the family’s right to determine the timing of childbearing and the spacing between births.
Modern family planning, according to him, is based on multiple methods, quality advice, and the availability of alternatives, so that every woman can choose the method that suits her health and reproductive conditions.
He warned that incomplete medical information may have a health cost, especially when it prompts a woman to stop using contraceptives without a suitable alternative.
In conclusion, classifying some birth control pills as cancer-causing agents does not mean that taking them inevitably leads to disease, nor does it mean ignoring potential risks. Rather, it emphasizes the importance of evaluating the benefits and risks for each woman individually, and making the decision in consultation with a doctor instead of relying on an excerpted publication or panic-inducing information.