The excerpts below from The Guardian and U.S. News provide essential information about the French study, announced in March 2024, that found an increased risk of brain and spinal cord tumors to be associated with prolonged Depo-Provera use. The study is referenced in lawsuits filed against Depo-Provera’s manufacturer, Pfizer. Anapol Weiss filed its first complaint against Pfizer on October 28, 2024, on behalf of a California woman who used Depo-Provera over a prolonged period and developed a brain tumor (meningioma). Anapol Weiss is investigating additional cases and will be filing more complaints in the upcoming months.
Hormone medication could increase risk of brain tumours, French study finds
Published in The Guardian
By Ian Sample, Science Editor
Date: March 27, 2024
Research suggests that long-term use of certain progestogen-based medications, commonly prescribed for contraception and managing conditions like endometriosis, may be linked to an increased risk of developing meningiomas—usually benign brain tumors. The study, published in the BMJ, examined data from the French national healthcare system, focusing on 18,061 women who underwent surgery for meningiomas. Researchers found that three specific progestogens, including the injectable contraceptive medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera), were associated with a higher risk, particularly with extended use beyond one year. Despite these findings, the study is observational and does not establish a direct causal link. As Pfizer, the manufacturer of Depo-Provera, stated, they are working with regulatory agencies to update product information to reflect this potential risk.
The researchers noted that while most meningiomas are noncancerous and grow slowly, their location near the brain can still pose health risks, often necessitating surgical removal. Surgical intervention for these tumors can be complicated by the possibility of damaging nearby brain structures, which could lead to additional complications. In light of the study’s findings, the researchers called for further investigation into the safety of specific hormones, especially injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate, given its widespread use by approximately 74 million women globally. They pointed out that “the number of attributable meningiomas may be potentially high” due to this extensive usage.
Read the article here.
Hormonal Meds for Birth Control, Menopause Linked to Brain Tumors
Published in U.S. News
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay Reporter
Date: March 28, 2024
A recent study reported in BMJ suggests that the contraceptive injection Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) and two menopause-relief drugs, medrogestone and promegestone, may increase the risk of brain tumors in women if used for over a year. Researchers found that Depo-Provera raised the risk of developing intracranial meningiomas, generally benign brain tumors, by 5.6 times, while medrogestone and promegestone raised the risk by 4.1 and 2.7 times, respectively. These drugs contain progestogens, a class of hormones similar to progesterone. Lead researcher Noémie Roland cautioned, “In countries for which the use of medroxyprogesterone acetate for birth control is frequent [74 million users worldwide], the number of attributable meningiomas may be potentially high.”
The study analyzed data from over 18,000 women in France who underwent surgery for these tumors from 2009 to 2018, comparing each patient to five other women without the condition. Increased risk was observed only in women who used these drugs for over a year; other progestogens, such as levonorgestrel used in IUDs and emergency contraception, showed no effect. Researchers noted that progesterone receptors are present in more than 60% of meningiomas, which may help explain the observed risk. However, they stressed that this observational study does not establish causation and called for further research, concluding, “Future studies should further clarify the association between the duration of use and risk for the progestogens studied.”
Read the article here.
