Large Danish Study Links Hormonal Contraceptives to Slightly Increased Brain Tumor Risk
A new extensive study involving nearly three million Danish women over 25 years has found a small but notable association between hormonal contraceptive use and the risk of developing meningioma, a mostly benign brain tumor. Published in JAMA Network Open, the research highlights that while hormonal birth control methods have been revolutionary in women's health for over six decades, offering benefits such as fertility control and reduced risks of certain cancers, they also carry rare risks including meningioma.
Meningioma tumors develop in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord and are diagnosed twice as often in women as men, suggesting female hormones, especially progesterone, may influence tumor growth. The strongest link was observed with medroxyprogesterone acetate injections (Depo-Provera), which showed a higher relative risk compared to non-users. Smaller risk increases were also found with combined oral contraceptives and progestin-only pills containing active ingredients like desogestrel, drospirenone, gestodene, and levonorgestrel. However, the absolute risk remains very low, with about 5 in 1,000 women developing meningioma in their lifetime, rising slightly to 6 in 1,000 among Depo-Provera users.
Importantly, the elevated risk declined after stopping hormonal contraceptives, typically returning to baseline within five years. The European Medicines Agency's safety committee has recommended updating product leaflets to include new warnings, especially advising women with a history of meningioma to avoid contraceptives containing desogestrel or etonogestrel. Women are also urged to monitor symptoms such as worsening headaches, vision changes, hearing loss, or seizures and seek medical evaluation if these occur.
Experts emphasize that these findings do not warrant discontinuing hormonal contraception without medical advice, as unintended pregnancies carry their own health risks. The study reinforces the importance of personalized contraceptive choices based on individual health profiles, age, and risk factors. Overall, hormonal contraceptives remain safe and effective for most women, with the new data providing clinicians with enhanced guidance for tailored treatment decisions.
In Israel, several contraceptives containing the studied active ingredients are available, including Cerazette (desogestrel), Yasmin and Yaz (drospirenone), Femint and Meliane (gestodene), and Mirena IUD (levonorgestrel), among others. The study's findings serve as a statistical alert rather than a direct risk for every user, underscoring the need for informed medical consultation.
