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28/03/2006
Birth control pill 'may reduce cancer risk'
A new contraceptive pill which may also help reduce the risk of breast cancer could be available within five years.
The new pill contains lower doses of the drug mifepristone - also known as RU486 - which is used in the abortion pill in higher doses. It does not contain female hormones, unlike the combined pill - the most popular form of the contraceptive - which contains both progesterone and oestrogen.
The combined pill has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer - believed to be due to the oestrogen - while the progesterone-only mini-pill is less effective and has side effects such as heavy bleeding.
The new pill works by stopping a woman's periods, which could also held to prevent pre-menstrual tension.
The research, led by a team from the University of Edinburgh, involved two trials on around 90 women. Researchers said that the trials had shown the pill worked as well as the conventional pills, but had very few side effects.
Professor David Baird, from the University of Edinburgh, said that animal tests had shown that the pill inhibited the development of breast cancer and that it was theoretically possible that it would have the same impact on humans.
Cancer charities have cautiously welcomed the research, but suggested that larger, long-term studies would be needed to properly determine the effects of the pill.
(KMcA/SP)
The new pill contains lower doses of the drug mifepristone - also known as RU486 - which is used in the abortion pill in higher doses. It does not contain female hormones, unlike the combined pill - the most popular form of the contraceptive - which contains both progesterone and oestrogen.
The combined pill has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer - believed to be due to the oestrogen - while the progesterone-only mini-pill is less effective and has side effects such as heavy bleeding.
The new pill works by stopping a woman's periods, which could also held to prevent pre-menstrual tension.
The research, led by a team from the University of Edinburgh, involved two trials on around 90 women. Researchers said that the trials had shown the pill worked as well as the conventional pills, but had very few side effects.
Professor David Baird, from the University of Edinburgh, said that animal tests had shown that the pill inhibited the development of breast cancer and that it was theoretically possible that it would have the same impact on humans.
Cancer charities have cautiously welcomed the research, but suggested that larger, long-term studies would be needed to properly determine the effects of the pill.
(KMcA/SP)
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