An injectable contraception utilized by some girls within the UK has been linked to an elevated danger of a kind of mind tumour.
A examine, printed within the British Medical Journal (BMJ), discovered folks utilizing injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate for greater than a yr seem to have the next danger of meningioma – a tumour of the membranes overlaying the mind and spinal twine.
It’s normally benign however could cause critical issues in some sufferers as a result of its location in and across the mind and spinal twine.
The brand new examine linked some varieties of progestogen (just like the hormone progesterone) to an elevated danger of meningioma, although a number of varieties will not be used within the UK.
Nonetheless, it discovered that extended use of medroxyprogesterone acetate was “related to an extra danger of intracranial meningioma”.
The French researchers, together with from the French Nationwide Company for Medicines and Well being Merchandise Security, stated: “In international locations for which the usage of medroxyprogesterone acetate for contraception is frequent (74 million customers worldwide), the variety of attributable meningiomas could also be probably excessive.”
A nurse prepares an injection
(Getty)
NHS prescription information suggests there are round 10,000 prescriptions for medroxyprogesterone acetate each month in England.
The brand new examine used information from the French nationwide well being system for 18,061 girls (common age 58) who underwent meningioma surgical procedure from 2009-18.
Meningioma
Signs of meningioma embody:
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.
Every case was matched to 5 management girls with out meningioma (whole 90,305) by yr of beginning and space of residence.
The outcomes confirmed that extended use of medroxyprogesterone acetate injection was related to a 5.6-fold elevated danger of meningioma.
Paul Pharoah, professor of most cancers epidemiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre within the US, stated lots of the findings within the examine didn’t relate to UK prescriptions however there have been dangers round medroxyprogesterone acetate.
He added: “The authors observe that causality can’t be decided in an observational examine similar to this however, given what we all know concerning the danger elements for meningioma, it appears fairly possible that the affiliation reported for medroxyprogesterone acetate is causal.
“You will need to observe that progestogens are an essential part of many varieties of contraception tablet (oral contraceptives) and hormone substitute remedy however there are lots of several types of progestogens and no affiliation with meningioma was discovered for the varieties of progestogens generally utilized in the UK.
“Because of this girls taking the generally used contraception tablets or hormone substitute remedy will not be at elevated danger of meningioma.
“It is crucial that girls don’t cease utilizing their contraception tablets with out consulting their physician.
“The notable exception is medroxyprogesterone acetate (also referred to as Depo-Provera) which is usually used as an injectable type of contraception within the UK.”
Prof Pharoah stated round 40 out of 10,000 30-year-old girls within the UK can be anticipated to be recognized with a meningioma earlier than the age of 80.
“This will increase to 200 in those that have used medroxyprogesterone acetate,” he added.
“This small improve in danger must be thought of in relation to the advantages of utilizing an injectable type of contraception.”
Dr Karen Noble, director of analysis, coverage and innovation at Mind Tumour Analysis, stated: “Any elevated understanding of the chance elements of mind tumours is helpful to the mind tumour group; it could open doorways to analysis on preventative measures, in addition to improve our understanding of why these tumours come up within the first place.
“Nonetheless, the general public must be cautious when digesting the outcomes from a examine similar to this earlier than taking motion.
“Though this examine has linked sure progestogen therapies to an elevated danger of meningioma, it has additionally demonstrated the security of different progestogen therapies which have been proven to not improve danger.
“If you’re involved, it is strongly recommended that you just communicate to your GP earlier than stopping any prescribed therapy.”
