A new study has found a small increase in brain tumor risk after prolonged use of the contraceptive pill desogestrel.
A large French study has found that using the progestogen-only contraceptive pill desogestrel for more than five years may slightly increase the risk of developing intracranial meningioma, a rare, non-cancerous brain tumor.
The study, which analyzed health records from over 8,000 women who had meningioma surgery and more than 83,000 controls, found the risk rises with prolonged use. However, the risk is low and disappears one year after stopping the medication.
“This large study shows an association between taking a certain progestogen (desogestrel) continuously for more than five years and meningioma risk, however, the magnitude of increase in the risk is small,” said Dr. Mangesh Thorat of Queen Mary University of London.
Experts emphasized that the findings should not cause alarm, especially as other progestogens like levonorgestrel were not linked to increased risk.
“Stopping desogestrel may also avoid unnecessary potentially harmful treatments,” said neurosurgeon Gilles Reuter.
Doctors are urged to consider safer alternatives, especially for women over 45 or those with prior high-risk progestogen use.
“There is no reason to panic,” added Thorat.