If you have a history of breast cancer in your family or have been previously diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s important to know there are increased risks when taking birth control with estrogen. You can discuss this risk with our doctors so you can make a decision that’s right for you. For women under 35 who have never had breast cancer and have no family history or risk of breast cancer, taking hormonal birth control is unlikely to increase your risk of developing breast cancer. That being said, studies show that taking birth control actually reduces your risk of uterine, ovarian, and colorectal cancers.