Oral Contraceptives and Breast Cancer: Modeling Risks and Benefits of OralContraceptives

摘要

Recently, a great deal of attention has been focused on the relationship betweenoral contraceptive use and the risk of breast cancer. The approach of most studies to evaluate this relationship has been to estimate the increased incidence of breast cancer which might be expected among users of oral contraceptives. However, because use of oral contraceptives also affects the risk of developing diseases other than breast cancer, an assessment of the public health impact of the OC-breast cancer association requires that the effects of OC use on breast cancer be considered in light of the effects of OCs on other diseases. The risks of using OCs must be balanced against the benefits. Family Health International has developed a life-table model to evaluate the net effect of oral contraceptive use on mortality. In developing the model consideration was given to what aspects of contraceptive use and risk need to be taken into account, how these factors Relate to each other, and the possible endpoints.