Contraceptive injections containing progestogens linked to mind tumour danger
Hormonal contraception utilized by thousands and thousands of ladies worldwide has been linked to an elevated danger of creating a uncommon kind of mind tumour.
Prolonged use of sure medicine containing the hormone progestogen can enhance the danger of meningioma – a tumour which is usually non-cancerous – by as much as five-fold, a examine discovered.
However, 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 danger was medroxyprogesterone acetate, a contraceptive injection out there below the model identify Depo-Provera.
NHS knowledge suggests there are round 10,000 prescriptions for the remedy each month in England.
Prolonged use for greater than a yr was related to a 5.6-fold elevated danger of creating meningioma, in response to the analysis.
“While this sounds like a very large risk it is important to realise that meningioma is rare and a five-fold increase in a rare disease is still a rare disease,” mentioned Paul Pharoah, professor of most cancers epidemiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, who was not a part of the examine.
Of 10,000 girls who’re aged 30 now, about 40 can count on to be recognized with a meningioma earlier than they flip 80, he mentioned.
That determine will increase to 200 for girls who’ve used the medroxyprogesterone acetate injection, in response to the examine’s findings.
“This small increase in risk needs to be considered in relation to the benefits of using an injectable form of contraception,” Prof Pharoah mentioned.
Progestogens are much like the pure hormone progesterone. They are broadly used to deal with gynaecological circumstances reminiscent of endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, in addition to in menopausal hormone remedy and contraceptives.
The new examine, revealed within the journal The BMJ, used knowledge from the French nationwide well being system for 18,061 girls who underwent meningioma surgical procedure between 2009 and 2018.
Each case was matched to 5 girls 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 larger danger of meningioma: medrogestone (a 4.1-fold enhance), promegestone (a 2.7-fold enhance) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (a 5.6-fold enhance).
Other progestogens have been examined by the researchers, from France’s National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety, however have been discovered to not enhance the danger.
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As it was an observational examine, researchers have been unable to determine whether or not the hormone remedies have been the reason for the tumours.
However, the scientists famous that, with 74 million customers of the injection worldwide, “the number of attributable meningiomas may be potentially high” in international locations the place the type of contraception is commonly used.
Further research utilizing different knowledge sources are urgently wanted to higher perceive the dangers, the researchers added.
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A meningioma is often benign however could cause severe issues in some sufferers as a result of its location in and across the mind and spinal twine.
Symptoms 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 firm mentioned in an announcement: “We are aware of this potential risk associated with long-term use of progestogens and, in collaboration with regulatory agencies, are in the process of updating product labels and patient information leaflets with appropriate wording.”
Dr Karen Noble, from the charity Brain Tumour Research, mentioned: “Although this study has linked certain progestogen treatments to an increased risk of meningioma, it has also demonstrated the safety of other progestogen treatments which were shown to not increase risk.
“If you’re involved, it’s endorsed that you just communicate to your GP earlier than stopping any prescribed remedy.”