Does the birth control pill increase cancer risk?

Last reviewed July 6, 2026 by Dr. Sapna Jadhav, General Physician. Sources from ACOG, NHS, Mayo Clinic, CDC, NICE, NIH, Cochrane, and peer-reviewed journals.

Bottom lineThe pill cuts ovarian cancer risk by 30-50% and endometrial cancer risk by at least 30%, with protection lasting decades, while current use slightly raises breast and cervical cancer risk; those increases are small and fade within about 10 years of stopping, so for most women the trade-off favors protection.

The honest answer is both directions at once: the pill lowers the risk of some cancers and slightly raises the risk of others while you take it.

Cancers the pill protects against

• Ovarian cancer: women who have ever used the pill have roughly a 30-50% lower risk, and protection strengthens with longer use and lasts for decades after stopping.
• Endometrial (womb) cancer: risk is reduced by at least 30%, again with long-lasting protection after stopping.
• Colorectal cancer: ever-use is associated with a modest reduction (around 15-20%).

Cancers with a small increased risk

• Breast cancer: current or recent pill use is linked to a small relative increase (roughly 20-30% on the low baseline risk of women of reproductive age). The added risk declines after stopping and disappears within about 10 years.
• Cervical cancer: risk rises with longer use (5+ years) and also declines after stopping. Regular cervical screening matters more here than the pill decision itself.

How to weigh it

For most women, the absolute increases are small and temporary, while the ovarian and endometrial protection is large and long-lasting. The balance shifts if you have a strong family history of breast cancer or a BRCA mutation - that is a conversation to have with your clinician before starting or continuing the pill.

What you can do

• Keep up with cervical screening on schedule.
• Tell your clinician about any family history of breast or ovarian cancer.
• Reassess your method every few years as your health and age change.

This is general information, not medical advice. Read the full evidence roundup: 15 facts about the birth control pill.

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