Pill poses partner problem

Tuesday November 15th, 2011

The contraceptive pill has been linked to many side-effects in women - but now researchers say it may affect their partners.

A new study claims a link between the use of the pill and an increased risk of prostate cancer.

The worldwide analysis is based on study rates of prostate cancer and use of the pill country by country.

Writing in the BMJ Open, the researchers said their findings were independent of the wealth of nations. And there was no link with use of other kinds of contraceptive.

Dr David Margel, of the Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada, says the hormones in contraceptive pills may be responsible. Some recent research has suggested that exposure to the female hormone oestrogen can increase risk of prostate cancer.

The researchers used statistics from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the United Nations World Contraceptive Use Report.

Dr Margel writes: "Temporal increases in the incidence of certain cancers (breast, endometrial, thyroid, testis and prostate) in hormonally sensitive tissues in many parts of the industrialised world are often cited as evidence that widespread exposure of the general population to endocrine disruptive compounds has had adverse impacts on human health."

BMJ Open November 15 2011

Tags: Cancer | Childbirth and Pregnancy | Men’s Health | North America | Women’s Health & Gynaecology

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