The increase in risk for cervical cancer among women using oral contraception could reflect biological interaction or be compounded by sexual behaviour

• Biologically, the use of oral contraceptives for five or more years increases the risk of cervical cancer for users. The risk declines slowly after cessation of oral contraceptive usage
  
  
• Sexually, women who use oral contraception are less likely to use barrier methods e.g. condoms, and are thus more likely to be exposed to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes cervical cancer
  
  
• A recent study of intrauterine devices (IUDs) has also found that women using IUDs are approximately one third less likely to develop cervical cancer. However, further research is required to confirm the linkage as well as exact mechanism of this phenomenon