Britney Spears Says She Is Not Allowed to Have Her IUD Removed Under Her Conservatorship; Here’s What We Know about IUDs and Cancer Risk

Details

IUDs and Cancer Risk

Britney Spears has said the current conditions of her conservatorship do not allow her to have her IUD removed, bringing this type on contraception to the forefront of the birth control conversation.
There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that IUDs are linked with a high risk of any cancer. However, one of our experts notes that there has been conclusive evidence linking IUDs with a decreased risk of ovarian, endometrial (uterine) and cervical cancer.
Uterine cancer begins in the lining of the uterus, and common risk factors include include hypertension, diabetes, obesity and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Pop icon Britney Spears put the IUD contraception method into the spotlight when she revealed in recent testimony about her conservatorship that she is not allowed to go to the doctor to have her IUD removed. Since we often receive inquiries about birth control and cancer, here’s what you should know about any existing links between IUDs and cancer.

There are multiple different intrauterine devices (IUDs) on the market today. Some have hormones, and some do not. The actual device is shaped like a “T” and is inserted through the vagina and cervix and into the uterus. It works by blocking sperm from fertilizing the egg, and, as of today, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that the use of IUDs increases your risk of developing any cancer. In a statement for SurvivorNet, Dr. Amanika Kumar, a gynecologic oncologist with Mayo Clinic, explained her perspective.

“From what we know, there is no cancer risks with progesterone releasing IUDs or other IUDs from a gynecologic cancer perspective,” Dr. Kumar wrote. “That being said, any use of contraception against an individuals will is unethical and regardless of cancer risk, harmful to the individual and to society.”

In an interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Oliver Dorigo, Director of Gynecologic Oncology at the Stanford Women's Cancer Center, also said "the data does not support an increased risk of cancer with the use of an IUD."

So, if there is no evidence of an increase in cancer risk for people using this form of birth control, is there any evidence of a decrease in cancer risk? Dr. Dorigo says yes. He explained that while IUDs are, in general, not recommended as a protective strategy against any cancer, correlational studies have studies have actually shown that IUDs are associated with a reduced risk of several gynecologic cancers.

"We've observed that those women who use IUDs for contraception have a decreased risk of cancer of the uterus or endometrial cancer, but also decreased risks to develop cancer of the ovary and cervix,” Dr. Dorigo said. “For endometrial cancer, the protective effect is particularly notable for women that are obese with a body mass index over 40.”

Understanding the Risks and Symptoms of Uterine Cancer

Dr. Dorigo explained that obesity is a significant risk factor for endometrial cancer. This type of cancer, sometimes called uterine cancer, is also "on the rise in younger patients" and the "number of women with newly diagnosed endometrial cancers is increasing every year," according to Dr. Dorigo. This is concerning, of course, but Dr. Dorigo stresses that IUDs are, in general, not implanted for cancer prevention.

Dr. Dorigo said IUDs were primarily used for contraception, but, in selected patients, could be used for treatment in women with abnormal uterine bleeding after excluding a cancer diagnosis. In addition, IUDs that contain progesterone can be used to treat an existing endometrial cancer, but this is only done under “very particular circumstances.”

For these cases, he said, the endometrial cancer is low-grade and at a very early stage.

“We cannot treat with an IUD when endometrial cancers have metastasized,” Dr. Dorigo said. “IUDs are not an option for the treatment of ovarian or cervical cancers.”

Understanding Endometrial/Uterine Cancer

Also called endometrial cancer, uterine cancer is a cancer that begins in the lining of the uterus. Dr. Diana English, a gynecological oncologist from Stanford Medicine, spoke with SurvivorNet about the nuances of this disease.

'I Push Forward' Meagan Good, 39, Who Had a Uterine Cancer Scare Years Ago, Shares Tips for Surviving Life's Challenges

"I think one of the challenges with uterine cancer is that it can also happen in younger patients that have certain conditions that might predispose them to cancer," she said. "And these patients might not be thinking about this, their primary care providers might not be speaking to them about this."

Common risk factors for uterine cancer include hypertension, diabetes, obesity and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

"This is a syndrome that's marked by anovulation, or the absence of regular periods, that tends to happen in premenopausal patients," Dr. English explains. "And some of these patients are obese, some of these patients have signs and symptoms of hyperandrogenism or elevated male sex hormones, and Lynch Syndrome."

Abnormal bleeding is a key symptom to look out for when considering uterine cancer. The bleeding "might include intermenstrual bleeding, or bleeding in between periods or, for postmenopausal patients, it will be postmenopausal bleeding." Showing any of the signs does not necessarily mean you have uterine cancer, but it’s important to bring them up to your doctor.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

SurvivorNetTV.
Hope. Science.
Inspiration.

WATCH NOW