Abortion May Increase Cancer Risk

Wednesday 23rd June 2010

Women who have terminated a pregnancy may be at an increased risk of developing breast cancer, according to new research. Scientists at the University of Colombo, Sri-Lanka, claim that women who have had an abortion could be up to three times more likely to develop breast cancer later in life. The report is one of four studies to recently link abortion with breast cancer.

Scientists believe that breast cancer could be triggered by a increase of oestadiol in the body - a hormone that stimulates breast growth during pregnancy. Researchers explain that levels of the hormone seem to safely stabilise in women who carry pregnancy to full term but may remain at potentially harmful concentrations in women who terminate a pregnancy.

Pro-life groups claim that the findings should encourage doctors and government officials to better inform women about the potential side effects of abortion. However, the new research has split medical opinion - with many experts unconvinced of the validity of the study's findings.

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