Depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and cancer: memorandum from a WHO meeting

A review of all available data including those from the WHO Collaborative Study of Neoplasia and Steroid Contraceptives has shown no increased risk of cancers of the breast, endometrium, ovary or liver in women using depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). The issue of a causal association between DMPA use and cervical cancer is as yet unresolved and will require the accumulation of additional data. To date, in the WHO study only a small number of women have used DMPA for prolonged periods or have had a long interval since first use. Information on cancer risk in these women can only be gained by continuing the present study or by initiating additional studies focused on these specific topics.