Oral contraceptive use and risk of invasive cervical cancer

A case-control study of 759 invasive cervical cancer patients and 1430 controls in Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia and Mexico enabled an evaluation of risk in relation to oral contraceptive use. Overall use was associated with a 21% nonsignificant elevation in risk, with some further increases in risk for more extensive durations of use. Although risks were similar for recent and non-recent users (RRs = 1.3 versus 1.2), recent long-term users were at highest risk (RR for 5+ years use = 1.7, 95% Cl 1.1-2.6). Relationships were similar for women with and without a recent Pap smear, arguing against detection bias. There was little evidence that other risk factors, including smoking and detection of human papillomaviruses (HPV), altered the effects of oral contraceptives. The risk associated with oral contraceptives was significantly increased for adenocarcinomas (RR = 2.2), whereas for squamous cell tumours the effect was minimal (RR = 1.1). These results provide some support for an adverse effect of oral contraceptives on cervical cancer risk, although possibly limited only to a subpopulation of cases.