Hormonal contraception utilized by tens of millions of girls worldwide has been linked to an elevated threat of creating a uncommon kind of mind tumour.
Extended use of sure medicine containing the hormone progestogen can improve the danger of meningioma – a tumour which is generally non-cancerous – by as much as five-fold, a examine discovered.
Nonetheless, specialists are warning girls to not cease utilizing their contraception with out consulting their physician.
Of the progestogens included within the examine, the one one used within the UK linked to the next tumour threat was medroxyprogesterone acetate, a contraceptive injection obtainable underneath the model title Depo-Provera.
NHS information suggests there are round 10,000 prescriptions for the treatment each month in England.
Extended use for greater than a 12 months was related to a 5.6-fold elevated threat of creating meningioma, in keeping with the analysis.
“Whereas this appears like a really massive threat you will need to realise that meningioma is uncommon and a five-fold improve in a uncommon illness remains to be a uncommon illness,” stated Paul Pharoah, professor of most cancers epidemiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Middle, who was not a part of the examine.
Of 10,000 girls who’re aged 30 now, about 40 can count on to be identified with a meningioma earlier than they flip 80, he stated.
That determine will increase to 200 for ladies who’ve used the medroxyprogesterone acetate injection, in keeping with the examine’s findings.
“This small improve in threat must be thought-about in relation to the advantages of utilizing an injectable type of contraception,” Prof Pharoah stated.
Progestogens are just like the pure hormone progesterone. They’re extensively used to deal with gynaecological situations akin to endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, in addition to in menopausal hormone remedy and contraceptives.
The brand new examine, printed within the journal The BMJ, used information from the French nationwide well being system for 18,061 girls who underwent meningioma surgical procedure between 2009 and 2018.
Every case was matched to 5 girls with out meningioma – a complete of 90,305 – by 12 months of beginning and space of residence.
The researchers discovered that extended use of three progestogens was related to a higher threat of meningioma: medrogestone (a 4.1-fold improve), promegestone (a 2.7-fold improve) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (a 5.6-fold improve).
Different progestogens have been examined by the researchers, from France’s Nationwide Company for Medicines and Well being Merchandise Security, however have been discovered to not improve the danger.
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Because it was an observational examine, researchers have been unable to determine whether or not the hormone therapies have been the reason for the tumours.
Nonetheless, the scientists famous that, with 74 million customers of the injection worldwide, “the variety of attributable meningiomas could also be probably excessive” in international locations the place the type of contraception is usually used.
Additional research utilizing different information sources are urgently wanted to higher perceive the dangers, the researchers added.
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A meningioma is often benign however may cause severe issues in some sufferers as a consequence of its location in and across the mind and spinal twine.
Signs embrace a change in imaginative and prescient, listening to loss or ringing within the ears, lack of scent, complications, reminiscence loss, seizures and weak spot in arms or legs.
Pfizer manufactures two medroxyprogesterone acetate injections used within the UK – Depo-Provera and Sayana Press.
The corporate stated in a press release: “We’re conscious of this potential threat related to long-term use of progestogens and, in collaboration with regulatory businesses, are within the strategy of updating product labels and affected person info leaflets with acceptable wording.”
Dr Karen Noble, from the charity Mind Tumour Analysis, stated: “Though this examine has linked sure progestogen therapies to an elevated threat of meningioma, it has additionally demonstrated the protection of different progestogen therapies which have been proven to not improve threat.
“If you’re involved, it’s endorsed that you just communicate to your GP earlier than stopping any prescribed therapy.”
