The Effects of Hormonal Birth Control and the Relation to Cervical Cancer

Abstract

Hormonal birth control as well as other methods of birth control have become an extremely popular method of preventing pregnancy. Hormonal birth control is marketed in a variety of different ways that is pleasing to the eye of its user (women) including: preventing pregnancy and regulating menstrual cycles. These methods of marketing come with warnings, but society has made it a regular commodity for women without talking about the deadly side effects that could come with it: Cervical cancer. Women in underdeveloped countries are at an increased risk for developing cervical cancer due to the lack of medical treatment and screening. Studies directly link hormonal birth control with cervical cancer, although there are other influencing factors such as HPV that may be a cause as well. Women with increased usage in hormonal birth control, as well as women with an increased number of full-term pregnancies, and hormonal birth control usage stand at a higher risk for developing cervical cancer, or pre-cervical cancer. Although research is still developing as birth control methods change over the years, it is clear to say hormonal birth control plays a major role in cervical cancer, instead of simply focusing on human papillomavirus, and its relation to cervical cancer.