Pharmacy Contraception Service
Written by AlisonFreemantle on Friday 30th January 2026
Fact-checking TikTok claims that WHO listed the contraceptive pill as a carcinogen
Viral claims that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has “just classified the pill as a group one carcinogen” are flooding TikTok.
“The pill is now classified as a level-one carcinogen. Like tobacco. Like alcohol. Like drugs,” one TikToker claims, prompting alarm among users of the platform. Others urge their followers to stop taking the pill altogether.
Several studies have found that both pills slightly increase the risk of breast cancer in women. This has been known since 2005.
However there is also data to suggest the contraceptive pill can reduce the risk of other types of cancer, such as endometrial, colorectal and bowel cancers.
This is not a new risk.