A woman stands confidently on a birth control pill surrounded by flowers, symbolizing reassurance about cancer risk.

The Pill and Pancreatic Cancer: What Women Need to Know

Avery Sinclair in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A large-scale study investigates the link between hormonal birth control and pancreatic cancer risk in premenopausal women."

Pancreatic cancer is a formidable disease, known for its aggressive nature and high mortality rate. While relatively rare in younger women, understanding potential risk factors is crucial for informed health decisions. One area of ongoing research is the relationship between hormonal contraception and pancreatic cancer risk.

For years, women have relied on hormonal contraceptives for family planning and managing various health conditions. These medications, including birth control pills, patches, and intrauterine devices (IUDs), work by altering hormone levels in the body. Given the established role of hormones in various cancers, it's natural to wonder if hormonal birth control could influence pancreatic cancer risk.

A recent study published in PLOS ONE investigated this very question, focusing specifically on premenopausal women. The study aimed to determine whether hormonal contraception increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer in this population. Here’s a breakdown of what the researchers found and what it means for women's health.

Does Hormonal Birth Control Increase Pancreatic Cancer Risk?

A woman stands confidently on a birth control pill surrounded by flowers, symbolizing reassurance about cancer risk.

The Danish study, a large-scale prospective cohort study, followed all women in Denmark aged 15-49 years without a history of cancer or venous thrombosis from 1995 to 2014. Researchers used the Danish National Prescription Registry to gather individually updated exposure information on hormonal contraception use.

Here's what the researchers considered in their data:

Types of Hormonal Contraception: Combined oral contraceptives, progestogen-only pills, patches, and IUDs.
Duration of Use: How long women used hormonal contraception.
Timing of Use: Whether women were current, recent, or past users.
Potential Confounding Factors: Age, education, parity (number of births), age at first birth, smoking status, body mass index, polycystic ovary syndrome, and endometriosis.

After following nearly 1.9 million women for an average of 11.4 years, the study found that ever-users of any type of hormonal contraception had a relative risk (RR) of pancreatic cancer of 0.90 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-1.19). This means that, compared to never-users, ever-users had a slightly lower, but not statistically significant, risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

The Bottom Line

This study offers reassurance to women using hormonal contraception. The results suggest that current and recent use of contemporary hormonal contraception does not significantly increase the risk of pancreatic cancer compared to never-users. The risk also did not vary between users of combined and progestogen-only products. While this study provides valuable insights, it's essential to discuss your individual risk factors and concerns with your healthcare provider. They can help you make informed decisions about birth control based on your specific health profile.

About this Article -

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Everything You Need To Know

What was the point of this study about birth control and cancer?

This study looked at the potential link between hormonal birth control and pancreatic cancer risk, specifically in premenopausal women. Hormonal contraceptives like birth control pills, patches, and IUDs alter hormone levels, and since hormones can play a role in cancer, it's relevant to investigate whether there's any influence on pancreatic cancer risk. The study's findings can help women and their doctors make informed decisions about contraception.

How did the researchers conduct the study to examine the link between hormonal birth control and pancreatic cancer?

The Danish study looked at a large group of women over a long time to see if there was a link between using hormonal birth control and getting pancreatic cancer. Researchers gathered data on the types of hormonal contraception used, how long women used them, and when they used them. They also considered other factors like age, education, and smoking habits to get a clearer picture of the potential risk.

Did the study find that hormonal birth control increases the risk of pancreatic cancer?

The study found that women who had ever used hormonal contraception (including combined oral contraceptives, progestogen-only pills, patches, and IUDs) did not have a significantly higher risk of pancreatic cancer compared to women who had never used hormonal contraception. The relative risk was 0.90, which is slightly lower, suggesting no significant increase in risk.

Did the type of hormonal birth control matter in terms of pancreatic cancer risk?

The study specifically looked at different types of hormonal contraception such as combined oral contraceptives, progestogen-only pills, patches and IUDs. The results indicated that the risk of pancreatic cancer did not significantly vary between users of combined and progestogen-only products. This provides reassurance that the specific type of hormonal birth control used does not appear to impact pancreatic cancer risk.

Are there other things I should keep in mind, even though the study is reassuring?

While the study offers reassurance, it is important to remember that it focused on pancreatic cancer risk in relation to hormonal contraception. It did not examine other potential health effects or risks associated with hormonal birth control. Furthermore, individual risk factors vary, and it’s crucial to have personalized discussions with healthcare providers to make informed decisions about birth control based on a specific health profile and concerns.