Birth control classified as group 1 carcinogen

The PILL and what no one told us

We’ve been handed birth control like candy — often before we’ve even had a real conversation about our bodies, our cycles, or our long-term health.

I was never told the pill was classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. That’s not a conspiracy theory — that’s the World Health Organization’s official classification. Birth control sits in the same category as cigarettes and asbestos. Yet when you go to your doctor, that’s not what’s mentioned. Instead, it’s framed as “safe,” “necessary,” or “no big deal.”

If cigarettes came in pink blister packs and were handed out to 15-year-old girls, would we still call that normal?

This post isn’t here to shame anyone. It’s here to inform. Because you deserve more than half the story. You deserve full-body autonomy, not just over your reproductive choices, but over your long-term health.

Wait — What’s a Group 1 Carcinogen?

Let’s break it down.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) — part of the World Health Organization — classifies substances based on how likely they are to cause cancer in humans. Group 1 is the highest level: proven to be carcinogenic to humans.

Included in this group:

• Tobacco

• Asbestos

• Processed meats

• Ultraviolet radiation

• Combined oral contraceptives (those containing both estrogen and progestin)

Yes. Birth control pills are on that list.

Studies link them to increased risk of breast, cervical, and liver cancers. And the longer you use them, the greater the potential risk.

Does that mean everyone who takes the pill will get cancer? No. But it does mean the risk is real — and it’s one that most of us were never even told about.

Synthetic hormone risks

Birth control contains synthetic versions of estrogen and progesterone. These hormones can stimulate the growth of certain hormone sensitive cancers like breast cancer, because hose cancers have receptors that respond to these hormones.

There is also evidence that oral contraceptives may increase the rick of cervical cancer by making cervical cells more vulnerable  to persistent HPV infection. Which is the root cause of of almost all cervical cancers.

The Problem Isn’t Just the Pill — It’s the Lack of Truth

Most women aren’t given true informed consent when it comes to hormonal birth control.

Instead of a full breakdown of pros and cons, we’re often rushed into a prescription. Acne? Take the pill. Irregular periods? Take the pill. Don’t want to get pregnant? Pill again.

We aren’t told that the pill can:

• Deplete vital nutrients like B vitamins, zinc, magnesium

• Disrupt natural hormone production (lowers testosterone)

• Flatten libido

• Trigger anxiety or depression

• Increase blood clot risk

• Alter gut and liver function

And we definitely aren’t told that we may not feel like ourselves while on it. But how could we know? Many of us started before we even knew who we were.

This Isn’t About Shame — It’s About Choice

If you’ve used or are using birth control — this isn’t an attack.

Birth control has helped a lot of women. For some, it’s a necessary medical tool. For others, it’s been a life-saver.

But informed consent means knowing the risks alongside the benefits — not just being handed a prescription and told to get on with it. You can’t make an empowered choice if you’re only being shown one side of the coin.

So What Are the Alternatives?

If you're rethinking birth control, you’re not alone. There are options — and they’re growing.

Here are some non-hormonal or low-intervention alternatives:

• Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) – tracking cycle, temperature, cervical fluid

• Daysy/Femtech trackers – smart tech meets hormone-free tracking

• Non-hormonal IUDs – like copper (Paragard)

• Barrier methods – condoms, diaphragms (yeah, they still exist)

None of these are perfect — but the point is, you deserve to know you have options. And you deserve to feel supported, not dismissed, when you ask questions.

This Is About Reclaiming Your Health

I work with women every day who are trying to get stronger, feel better, and finally understand their bodies.

And the truth is: you can’t optimize your health if you’re disconnected from your cycle, numbed out by synthetic hormones, or unaware of the risks of long-term medication.

Muscle, strength, energy, libido, mood, metabolism — they’re all tied to your hormones. And your hormones were never the problem.

So let’s stop outsourcing our health. Let’s start asking better questions.

Because you are not broken. Your body doesn’t need to be shut down to function. And you deserve the whole truth — not just the convenient version.

Want to Dig Deeper? Here Are Some Resources:

• 📚 Beyond the Pill by Dr. Jolene Brighten

• 📚 The Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden

• 🎙️ The Fertility Friday Podcast by Lisa Hendrickson-Jack

• 📱 @drjolenebrighten or @larabriden on Instagram

If this post hit home — share it with a friend. Or better yet, start the conversation that no one had with us when we were younger.