Birth Control Leads to Increased Rates of Prostate Cancer?

A new study uncovered a possible link between increased levels of estrogen in drinking water and a rise in the number of cases of prostate cancer.

After an investigation of data from 87 countries by researchers at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, one possible cause for an increase in estrogen levels in drinking water was singled out: oral contraceptives, or the birth control pill.

“What we found was that in countries where the oral contraceptive was used more often, prostate cancer had a greater incidence,” Dr. David Margel, a urologist and the study’s lead author, told The Canadian Press.

The idea, which is only a hypothesis at this time, is that when a high level of a population uses the birth control pill, the amount of estrogen that is released through urination increases the levels of the chemical in the water supply.  Past studies have found that increased exposure to estrogen or estrogen-mimicking chemicals can lead to increased rates of prostate cancer.

Margel and other researchers stressed that the study is, indeed, only a hypothesis,and more substantial research into this and other factors is needed before any definitive conclusions can be drawn.

“This is a very, very preliminary finding,” Margel explained. “We think further research is needed to explore both oral contraceptives, but also other estrogenic compounds that may contaminate our environment and may cause and increase the incidence and mortality from prostate cancer.”

Other sources of estrogen and similar compounds could include anything from pesticides to plastic bottles to toys and cosmetics. However, Fe de Leon, a researcher at the Canadian Environmental Law Association, cautions against flagging one specific chemical as the culprit just yet.

“It’s very hard to make that distinction,” de Leon told The Canadian Press. “It’s hard to pinpoint which chemical’s responsible for a particular health endpoint. It certainly warrants further investigation.”

During the study research ruled out other methods of contraception, such condoms, vaginal barrier and intrauterine devices, as having an effect on the estrogen levels found in drinking water.

Margel hopes to conduct further studies on drinking water and cancerous and non-cancerous prostate tissue, focusing on the levels of estrogen and estrogenic compounds they find in each. Until then, he re-iterates that the current study is a building block to be used for further research and should be taken as such.

“This study does not establish cause and effect,” Margel told The Canadian Press. “We’re not telling everybody to quit the pill. But further research needs to be done and it’s an interesting finding.”

For the full Canadian Press article, click here.

-Mike Crisolago