Treatment similar to Depo-Provera may improve the danger of growing a uncommon kind of mind tumour, new analysis suggests. Nonetheless, specialists are warning ladies to not change their contraception with out speaking to a physician.
By Josephine Franks, Information reporter @jos_franks
Thursday 28 March 2024 12:23, UK
Hormonal contraception utilized by thousands and thousands of girls worldwide has been linked to an elevated danger of growing 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 usually non-cancerous – by as much as five-fold, a research discovered.Nonetheless, specialists are warning ladies to not cease utilizing their contraception with out consulting their physician.Of the progestogens included within the research, the one one used within the UK linked to a better tumour danger was medroxyprogesterone acetate, a contraceptive injection obtainable below the model identify Depo-Provera.NHS information suggests there are round 10,000 prescriptions for the remedy each month in England.Extended use for greater than a yr was related to a 5.6-fold elevated danger of growing meningioma, in keeping with the analysis.”Whereas this feels like a really massive danger it is very important realise that meningioma is uncommon and a five-fold improve in a uncommon illness remains to be a uncommon illness,” mentioned Paul Pharoah, professor of most cancers epidemiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Middle, who was not a part of the research.Of 10,000 ladies who’re aged 30 now, about 40 can count on to be identified with a meningioma earlier than they flip 80, he mentioned.That determine will increase to 200 for ladies who’ve used the medroxyprogesterone acetate injection, in keeping with the research’s findings.
“This small improve in danger must be thought of in relation to the advantages of utilizing an injectable type of contraception,” Prof Pharoah mentioned.Progestogens are just like the pure hormone progesterone. They’re broadly used to deal with gynaecological circumstances similar to endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, in addition to in menopausal hormone remedy and contraceptives.The brand new research, revealed within the journal The BMJ, used information from the French nationwide well being system for 18,061 ladies who underwent meningioma surgical procedure between 2009 and 2018.Every case was matched to 5 ladies with out meningioma – a complete of 90,305 – by yr of beginning and space of residence.The researchers discovered that extended use of three progestogens was related to a higher danger of meningioma: medrogestone (a 4.1-fold improve), promegestone (a 2.7-fold improve) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (a 5.6-fold improve).Different progestogens had been examined by the researchers, from France’s Nationwide Company for Medicines and Well being Merchandise Security, however had been discovered to not improve the danger.Learn extra from Sky Information:King delivers Easter message following most cancers diagnosisThames Water boss refuses to rule out invoice hikesElon Musk broadcasts extra adjustments to X
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Because it was an observational research, researchers had been unable to ascertain whether or not the hormone therapies had 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 doubtlessly excessive” in nations the place the type of contraception is usually used.Additional research utilizing different information sources are urgently wanted to raised perceive the dangers, the researchers added.Learn extra:Hormonal contraceptive ‘may improve most cancers danger’British males first to strive new male contraceptive tablet
A meningioma is often benign however may cause critical issues in some sufferers as a consequence of its location in and across the mind and spinal wire.Signs embody a change in imaginative and prescient, listening to loss or ringing within the ears, lack of scent, complications, reminiscence loss, seizures and weak point in arms or legs.Pfizer manufactures two medroxyprogesterone acetate injections used within the UK – Depo-Provera and Sayana Press.The corporate mentioned in a press release: “We’re conscious of this potential danger related to long-term use of progestogens and, in collaboration with regulatory businesses, are within the technique of updating product labels and affected person info leaflets with applicable wording.”Dr Karen Noble, from the charity Mind Tumour Analysis, mentioned: “Though this research has linked sure progestogen therapies to an elevated danger of meningioma, it has additionally demonstrated the security of different progestogen therapies which had been proven to not improve danger.”In case you are involved, it’s endorsed that you just communicate to your GP earlier than stopping any prescribed remedy.”