According to the latest reports in a new study, it seems that certain progestogens are linked to higher risks of developing brain tumors. Check out the latest details about this below.
Higher brain cancer risks
Studies have shown that certain progestogen hormone drugs, including a commonly used injectable contraceptive known as “Depo-Provera,” may increase the risk of developing intracranial meningioma tumors.
The risk is specifically associated with the prolonged use of medrogestone, promegestone, and injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate.
These findings were published in a recent study in The BMJ by French researchers who found that the increased risk of intracranial meningiomas may require surgery.
Progestogens are a type of drug that produces effects similar to natural progesterone in the body. They come in both plant-derived bioidentical progesterones and synthetic forms.
These drugs are often prescribed to women to treat various gynecological conditions such as infertility, endometriosis, menopausal symptoms, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. They can also be used to prevent miscarriages or preterm births, as well as serve as contraceptives.
Researchers analyzed data from the French national health data system to determine if progestogens increased the risk of meningioma in women who underwent surgery for intracranial meningioma between 2009 and 2018.
During the selected period, 18,061 women out of a total of 108,366 underwent intracranial surgery for meningioma and were considered as the case group.
The mean age of these women was 57.6. For each case, five controls (a total of 90,305) were selected who had the same birth year and area of residence.
The researchers investigated different administration routes for progestogen exposure, including vaginal, transdermal, intramuscular, and oral progesterone, dydrogesterone with or without estrogen, promegestone, medrogestone, injectable contraceptive medroxyprogesterone acetate, dienogest with or without estrogen, hydroxyprogesterone, and intrauterine systems of levonorgestrel.
The study found that long-term use of certain hormonal contraceptives increases the risk of intracranial meningioma.
Check out more details in the original study.
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