EXCLUSIVE Experts flag new agonising risk of most popular contraceptive - after another type is linked to brain tumours

Daily Mail​

12 hours ago

Millions of women on the Pill may face a higher risk of painful infections that can cause infertility or life-threatening pregnancy complications, experts warn.
The warning comes just weeks after it emerged that hundreds of women in the UK are considering legal action amid fears contraceptive injections may raise the risk of brain tumours five-fold.
Now, experts are sounding the alarm over other hormonal contraceptives, which have been shown to contribute to chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bacterial vaginosis (BV).
Dr Melanie Davis-Hall, medical director at The Lowdown and an NHS GP, said: 'The potential link between these conditions and hormonal contraception deserves more attention.
'Recurrent UTIs and BV can seriously affect a person's quality of life.
'These aren't just minor annoyances—they cause pain and can lead to complications like kidney infections or pelvic inflammatory disease.'
A recent US study of more than 24,500 women found those using prescribed contraceptives were significantly more likely to develop a UTI.
The injection was linked to a two-fold increase in UTIs, whilst The Pill—which contains hormones oestrogen and progesterone—was associated with a 10 per cent spike.
Despite concerns, health experts urged women taking hormonal contraception not to suddenly stop without having another method in place.
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common but agonising condition that affects the bladder, urethra and sometimes the kidneys.
It's typically treated with a short course of antibiotics.
Symptoms include a burning sensation while urinating—known as dysuria—frequent or urgent need to go, and lower abdominal pain.
According to the NHS, some people may also notice blood in their urine, develop a high temperature or feel hot and shivery.
Others may have an unusually low temperature, below 36C.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV), meanwhile, is a common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge and can raise the risk of sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia.
Dr Melanie Davis-Hall, an NHS GP and medical director at The Lowdown, says she regularly sees women with recurrent infections while using certain hormonal contraceptives.
The proportion of women taking oral contraceptives has fallen by more than two-thirds, from 420,600 in 2012/13 to 126,400 in 2022/23, according to the NHS data. Around 555,400 women turned to the health service's sexual and reproductive health services in 2022/23—equivalent to four per cent of 13 to 54-year-olds
In some cases, symptoms ease significantly after switching contraceptive methods—or stopping them altogether.
One woman, who asked not to be named, told MailOnline she suffered from monthly bouts of thrush and UTIs for more than five years while taking the Pill.
Since August last year, the 24-year-old teacher from Oxford experienced near-daily symptoms, including a stinging sensation when passing urine or during sex, and a frequent, urgent need to go.
Despite trying everything from over-the-counter remedies to repeated courses of antibiotics, nothing brought lasting relief.
'Having constant thrush and UTIs has completely knocked my confidence—especially around being intimate,' she said. 'It's really upsetting to feel unattractive, even with a really understanding partner.'
She added that limited access to bathrooms during the school day often made her symptoms worse.
'I'm always thinking about where the nearest toilet is when I'm out in public. It's draining, having to plan around it all the time.'
Since coming off the Pill in April for fertility reasons, her symptoms have almost entirely cleared—and she hasn't had a single UTI.
'I feel disappointed that I didn't know all the facts, and that the dots weren't joined by my healthcare provider,' she said.
Commenting on the large number of women reporting recurrent UTIs, Dr Davis-Hall said: 'Whilst there isn't robust clinical evidence yet to definitively confirm that the Pill causes UTIs, there are plausible biological mechanisms.
'The Pill can alter the balance of hormones in the body—particularly oestrogen and progesterone—which may impact the vaginal microbiome, the ecosystem of bacteria that protects against infections like BV and UTIs.'
Hormonal changes can also affect the vaginal and urethral linings, which may influence susceptibility to infection.
Vaginal dryness is a well-known side effect of progestogens—synthetic hormones used in many contraceptives—and this in turn increases the risk of UTIs.
'Contraceptives containing certain progestogens may thin the vaginal lining or affect cervical mucus in ways that increase the risk of other infections like BV,' she added.
Common symptoms of BV include unusual vaginal discharge—often with a strong, unpleasant odour, particularly after sex—and changes in the colour and consistency of discharge.
According to the NHS, around half of women with BV experience no symptoms at all.
Whilst the condition is not usually serious and can often be treated with antibiotics, in extreme cases it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
This is a serious infection of the female reproductive system that can cause scarring in the fallopian tubes.
This can increase the risk of a dangerous ectopic pregnancy—where a foetus grows outside the womb, usually in the fallopian tubes.
Ectopic pregnancies cannot be saved and can cause life-threatening complications. If left untreated, PID can lead to infertility—a risk that rises with repeated episodes of the disease.
Dr Davis-Hall said: 'Recurrent UTIs and BV can cause pain, impact sexual enjoyment or lead to avoidance of intimacy, and contribute to relationship difficulties.
The psychological burden—particularly when symptoms are dismissed or inadequately managed—is also significant.'
In line with NHS guidance, she advises anyone experiencing recurrent UTIs or BV to speak to their GP to rule out other causes and consider whether their current contraceptive method may be playing a role.
The warning comes as research published this week suggests that millions of women taking the mini-pill could be at greater risk of developing a brain tumour.
The mini-pill —a daily birth control pill that contains progesterone only—is often prescribed as an alternative to The Pill, which also contains oestrogen.
But scientists now say that women who take the contraceptive for more than five years are more likely to develop a meningioma.
These tumours can be potentially life-threatening, putting pressure on the brain and causing symptoms like seizures, visual disturbances and memory loss as they grow.
However, health experts urged women not to be alarmed, as the overall risk remains very low.
Experts also pointed out a key limitation of the study—the researchers only looked at one type of mini-pill, desogestrel , and did not asses other progestogens.
That being said, a similar study published last year, found that women using contraceptives jabs were also more likely to suffer potentially-fatal brain tumours.
The injection implicated in the study—known as medroxyprogesterone acetate—also contains progestogen and works by stopping ovulation.
When used correctly, this form of long-acting reversible contraception can last up to 13 weeks.
But now a team of scientists from the French National Agency are raising the alarm over the jab's safety, as they found the number of women developing meningiomas while on the jab was particularly worrying.
Around 400 women from the US have so far joined a class action against Pfizer and other manufacturers of the jab, alleging that they were aware of the risk but failed to adequately warn users or promote safer alternatives.
All the women developed meningiomas after using Depo Provera, the brand name the jab was sold under, for at least a year.