Who is this website for?
This website is for people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and want to prevent pregnancy.
This information may be especially helpful for people with early onset breast cancer (EOBC).
You may notice that we do not split our birth control advice by breast cancer type, stage, or hormone status.
Unless we say otherwise, the information in this website applies generally to all breast cancers.
Our expert guidance applies to all breast cancers-no matter the type, stage, or hormone receptor status. And if there’s ever an exception, we’ll point it out clearly so you don’t have to guess.
But remember - you are unique. And birth control decisions are really personal.
The best birth control for you will be different than what is best for others - even if they have a similar breast cancer history.
Our goal
Our goal is simple: to give you clear info that you can trust and use to make informed birth control decisions after a breast cancer diagnosis.
We know the amount of information can feel like a lot to take in. There are up to 18 different birth control methods, and even more opinions about which are best or safe. (Everyone’s mother, sister, and friend has an opinion, right?)
Our hope is that this website helps you feel understood and prepared to talk to your oncologist, cancer team, and birth control provider.
Who are we?
We are a group of doctors, researchers, and patient advisors who believe that birth control information should be clear, supported by science, and widely available to all people with breast cancer.
This website was co-created with a Patient Advisory Board – 11 dedicated individuals who know what it is like to be diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer at a young age. Their honest and helpful ideas made sure this project was based on real life experiences
Thank you to our Patient Advisory Board for sharing their stories and speaking up for other thrivers and survivors.
Why should young thrivers and survivors be informed about birth control?
About 1 in 6 new breast cancers in the United States are diagnosed in people 45 years old or younger – also called early onset breast cancer (EOBC). Some experts feel that breast cancer diagnosed at age 50 or younger also falls under "early onset."
Because of the relatively young age of those who get diagnosed with EOBC, many are still fertile and can pregnant. There are many reasons why people should, and want, to avoid pregnancy at this time:
- They are undergoing chemotherapy
- They are taking medications that can cause birth defects
- They want to focus on breast cancer treatment and their health
If you were pre-menopausal or peri-menopausal at the time of breast cancer diagnosis, your natural periods often stop as a result of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments. But, these periods may start up again later.
Going from pre-menopause to peri-menopause and finally to menopause can take months to years. It is not like turning on or off a light switch.
During this process, it is important that anyone who does not want to become pregnant gets clear information about birth control options.
You deserve guidance that helps you feel informed, confident, and cared for as you explore what’s right for you.
Pregnancy after breast cancer diagnosis
The focus of this website is to provide birth control information for people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
While this website is not focused on getting pregnant in the future, we know that this is an important and deeply personal topic for many.
Here are key things to keep in mind:
- Most experts recommend waiting 1-2 years after finishing breast cancer treatment before trying to become pregnant. What “finishing breast cancer treatment” means can be different for each person. If you are not sure, please ask your cancer care team.
- Tamoxifen and Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) may cause birth defects. These medicines should be stopped for at least 2-3 months before trying to get pregnant. If you are considering pregnancy, talk with your oncology team about how to safely stop these medications before attempting pregnancy.
The good news is that pregnancy itself does not appear to increase the risk of breast cancer recurrence.
To learn more about getting pregnant after breast cancer, you can check out the websites below:
This project was funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Service. The CDC and MDHHS were not directly involved in the creation of this website.
The information on this website is based upon the expertise and opinions of our scientific team. We have no financial or personal conflicts of interest to disclose. That is, we do not stand to personally gain anything from your use of this website or its information.
This website does not cover all possible and reasonable approaches to birth control use.
Please talk to a trusted health care provider about topics that are not addressed in this website.
As new science comes out, information about birth control and breast cancer will change. The information here reflects what we know as of May 2026.
We encourage you to check with your health care team for the most up-to-date guidance.
For any questions or suggestions please contact Justine Wu at justinep@med.umich.edu