29/01/2026
Hold a beat before putting your teen daughter on the pill. You should see this new study first.
Researchers followed 2M+ teens and women in Sweden and found hormonal birth control was linked to a 24% higher breast cancer risk compared to never-users. 😞
PMID: 41165687
This isn’t totally new. We’ve known the pill can raise breast cancer risk - but past studies lumped all pills together.
What’s different (and huge) about this NEW study:
• It broke down risk by type of pill and the hormones inside.
• Pills containing the progestin *desogestrel* showed the highest risk, especially with long-term use.
So no, the risk is not the same across the board.
And because the study tracked teen girls, this speaks directly to risks when starting the pill in adolescence or early 20s.
We live in a world where giving teens the pill is a rite of passage & used for acne, irregular cycles, pain... but it’s still a powerful hormone medication at a sensitive stage of development.
If the pill feels unavoidable, choose wisely, and avoid desogestrel-containing pills. Consider waiting until there’s been a few years of regular cycles. And if the pill is still the best choice, check in regularly and track any symptoms.
The most empowering starting point IMO? Food, lifestyle and cycle tracking (including learning about the fertile window, cervical fluid and basal body temp).
Balanced nutrition, stress support, rest, and movement can often regulate cycles, help skin, and ease symptoms, without the long-term risks.
As always, I am not anti-pill, I am pro-informed consent.
If this was helpful or you know someone who needs to hear it, share this video. 💕
