No Link Between Abortion and Breast Cancer Risk
Previous abortion does not increase Breast Cancer risk.
ACOG NEWS RELEASEFor Release:
July 31, 2003
Contact:
ACOG Office of Communications
communications@acog.org
ACOG Finds No Link Between Abortion and Breast Cancer Risk
Washington, DC — There is no evidence supporting a causal link between induced abortion and subsequent development of breast cancer, according to a committee opinion issued today by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). ACOG’s opinion is in agreement with the conclusion reached at the National Cancer Institute’s Early Reproductive Events and Breast Cancer Workshop, which met in March 2003.
ACOG’s review of the research on a link between abortion and later development of breast cancer concluded that studies on the issue were inconsistent and difficult to interpret, mainly due to study design flaws. Some studies showed either a significant decrease in breast cancer risk after abortion or found no effect. The most recent studies from China, the United Kingdom, and the US found no effect of induced abortion on breast cancer risk.
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The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is the national medical organization representing over 45,000 members who provide health care for women.