The mammographic breast pattern and oral contraception.
The relationship of oral contraceptive usage to breast parenchymal patterns has been studied in 5319 self-selected women presenting to a breast screening unit. Among premenopausal women, 46.1% had taken an oral contraceptive ("the pill") in the past, and 9.5% were still taking the pill. These patients showed a decreased incidence of P2 patterns and an increased incidence of N1 patterns. Of the post-menopausal women, 14.7% had been on the pill. Similar differences of incidence of parenchymal patterns are noted in these women. The significance of these changes is unclear.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001940:Breast / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008593:Menopause; D012306:Risk
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D004967:Estrogens