Contraceptive jab risk ‘requires further research’

Women’s health experts have called for more research into female contraception and its side effects after a study found millions of patients who use a hormonal contraceptive injection may have an increased risk of developing brain tumours.

Healthcare professionals have urged women taking progestogens not to panic and to speak with their GP before stopping any prescription medication.

It comes after research published in the British Medical Journal showed an association between certain progestogens and the risk of meningioma – a usually benign tumour of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.

According to the study, people using injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate for more than a year appear to have a higher risk of meningioma.

Experts have stressed the study has limitations, including that it is observational and cannot determine which hormones caused the tumours, while highlighting the need for further research.

The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health (FSRH) said: “This study highlights the importance of research in this area and the FSRH would of course encourage and welcome further research into the links between contraception, its benefits, side effects and health risks.”

It added: “It is important that women do not stop their contraception based on these study findings as this may put them at risk of pregnancy, but we do advise speaking with your health care professional if you are concerned.”

British Menopause Society Chair Dr Paula Briggs, told i: “I think for women who depend on social media for their information, some of what they’re seeing is extremely skewed. It’s not necessarily balanced.

“Even with this study, we have to remember that meningioma are benign tumours.”

Progestogens are widely used to treat gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis, menopausal hormone therapy, and contraceptives.

Dr Mangesh Thorat, deputy director (clinical) of the Cancer Prevention Trials Unit at King’s College London, said: “All studies have limitations. The study cannot provide information on the formulations not commonly used in France but used in other countries.

“This therefore underscores the need for further research using similar databases in other nations.”

The large study used data from the French national health system for 18,061 women (average age 58) who underwent meningioma surgery from 2009-18.