Assessing the Role of Reversible Contraceptives in the Health Care of Women as it Pertains to Cancer Prevention

A paediatric perspective on hormonal contraception and breast cancer risk: New literature about a recurring question

The New England Journal of Medicine recently featured an original research article, 'Contemporary Hormonal Contraception and the Risk of Breast Cancer'. (Source: Mørch LS, Skovlund CW, Hannaford PC, Iversen L, Fielding S, Lidegaard Ø. Contemporary hormonal contraception and the risk of breast cancer. N Engl J Med 2017;377(23):2228-39). This study of 1.8 million women ages 15 to 49 years in Denmark found that women who were currently or recently using any type of hormonal contraception had an increased risk of breast cancer and this risk increased with longer duration of use. To date, the implications of this study have focused on older female populations. In this commentary, the authors summarize the key findings of the study and discuss its unique implications for adolescents. The authors emphasize that health care providers need not change their practice as a result of this 'old but new again' controversy and should continue to support the prevention of unintended pregnancy by promoting access to ALL forms of contraception.

RISUG® based improved intrauterine contraceptive device (IIUCD) could impart protective effects against development of endometrial cancer

Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices with multifaceted application potential is a need of an hour. Although, copper-based IUDs exert an effective contraceptive as well as anticancer effects in a long-term basis, but also results in multiple complications. In this regard, RISUG^® a polymer based contraceptive device has been introduced as a suitable alternative. However, its potential to impart protective effects against development of endometrial cancer still remains unexplored. This article presents the hypothesis on this unexplored domain and provides scientific facts to support the hypothesis. The mechanism of anticancerous activity is hypothesized that RISUG^® involves its lipid membrane destabilizing activity. This activity is modulated by both, the cellular microenvironment and lipid bilayer composition. Acidic environment along with the significantly higher fluidic nature of lipid bilayer of the cancerous cells make them more prone to lipid solubilisation effect of RISUG^®. We here present an in-depth insight into the factors that would favour faster solubilisation of cancer cell membrane, thereby exerting an anticancer effect.