Latest news with #Microgynon
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Long-Term Use of This Contraceptive Pill Linked to Increased Brain Tumor Risk
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Using the progestogen-only contractive pill "desogestrel" for more than five years may increase the risk of developing a type of brain tumor known as an "intracranial meningioma," a new study has warned. The researchers noted that the risk is low—and is eliminated one year after desogestrel treatment is suspended—but that doctors' awareness of the possibility could eliminate the need for surgery in some cases. Meningiomas are a rare, non-cancerous form of tumor that arise from the membranes surrounding the brain. While slow-growing and benign in and of themselves, they can develop to a size that compresses other structures in the brain. They usually only require surgery when they cause symptoms such as persistent headaches or neurological issues. Woman holding combined oral contraceptive pill. Woman holding combined oral contraceptive pill. PATCHARIN SIMALHEK The study, based on data from France's national health system, compared over 8,000 women who underwent surgery for meningioma between 2020 and 2023 with more than 83,000 matched controls. Researchers found that women who had taken desogestrel continuously for more than five years had a slightly elevated risk of developing the brain tumors. Reassuringly, no increased risk was found for short-term use or for other commonly used progestogens like levonorgestrel, either alone or combined with estrogen. "This large study using French national database... 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 paper author Dr. Mangesh Thorat of Queen Mary University of London in a statement. Short-term use does not increase risk and the risk ceases after stopping use, he added. The authors estimate that one woman in every 67,000 using desogestrel would need surgery for meningioma and this drops to 1 in 17,000 with continuous use beyond five years. By comparison, breast cancer is about 10 times more common than meningioma. To understand progestogens, Thorat said it's crucial to note that the effects of different drug formulations can vary significantly and individual drugs can affect various organs differently. "Therefore, it is important to consider which specific drug is being used by an individual," he said. The study also showed that Microgynon and the morning-after pill—both containing levonorgestrel—were not linked to increased risk. Still, the findings have clinical relevance, especially for women over 45 or those with a prior history of using other high-risk progestogens. In such cases, the study suggests discontinuing desogestrel if a meningioma is identified, rather than jumping straight to surgery. "Stopping desogestrel may also avoid unnecessary potentially harmful treatments," said neurosurgeon Gilles Reuter of the University Hospital Liegein an accompanying editorial. Reuter emphasized that similar results have already been seen with other high-risk progestogens. While the study is observational and cannot prove cause and effect, its large sample size adds weight to the findings. However, experts say the takeaway should be caution, not alarm. For those affected by the findings, Thorat advises speaking with a healthcare provider regarding which drug is being used. "If it is associated with an increased risk of meningioma, this can be changed to a safer alternative," he said. "There is no reason to panic as the risk is very small and even in those who developed meningioma, stopping the specific drug has shown to cause regression in the size of meningioma." Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about contraceptives? Let us know via health@ References Roland, N., Kolla, E., Baricault, B., Dayani, P., Duranteau, L., Froelich, S., Zureik, M., & Weill, A. (2025). Oral contraceptives with progestogens desogestrel or levonorgestrel and risk of intracranial meningioma: National case-control study. BMJ, 389. Reuter, G. (2025). Progestogens and meningioma: New evidence on levonorgestrel and desogestrel. BMJ, 389.
Cosmopolitan
29-05-2025
- Health
- Cosmopolitan
TikTok is obsessed with the hormone-free birth control debate: why is everyone telling you to stop the pill?
Sometimes a change in your life can be so seamless that it takes you a while to fully register that it has happened. Like when the crushing unhappiness you felt from a break-up very slowly lifts and, one day, you notice you're smiling again. This was how I felt after going back on the contraceptive pill. I began taking desogestrel – the generic name for a progestogen-only pill (the mini pill) in February 2022. A few months later, I recognised that the premenstrual stress I had grown so accustomed to had lifted. The uninvited symptoms that so often gatecrashed my body in the lead-up to menstruating – tender breasts, visceral anxiety and intense hyperactivity – were dialled right back. My mood felt calmer, steadier. Ironically, the very thing I had spent so many years feeling terrified of taking, because of its potential impact on my mental health, appeared to be working wonders for exactly that. Why had I been so afraid of what the pill would do to me? Where had this mistrust come from? And why are there so many others, like me, turning their backs on this form of contraception? Utter the word 'Microgynon' and it's likely to illicit a shudder. It's one of the most commonly prescribed contraceptive pills in the UK and often a first port of call for doctors. It was the first one I was prescribed, aged 18, and the side effects I personally experienced were so bad, they turned me off the pill for more than a decade. Instead I opted for the copper coil, also known as an IUD (intrauterine device) – a non-hormonal form of contraception. It's hard to know for certain what was driving the low mood that followed my introduction to Microgynon. Was it part and parcel of a coming-of-age malaise and the raging hormones adolescence is famed for, or was it directly linked to taking the pill? Mood changes are one of the side effects (alongside 'headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and weight gain', explains Dr Janet Barter, president of the Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare) but, in hindsight, my negative perception of the pill in the years that followed was not solely down to my experience. I had also inadvertently, and to some extent subconsciously, absorbed the widespread mistrust that colours so many people's view of the contraceptive pill – and hormonal contraception more broadly – nowadays. When first conceived in the 1950s, the pill was synonymous with a new era of women's liberation. But since then, criticism and scepticism has swelled and in 2025 it has reached fever pitch. Researchers found the proportion of women using hormonal contraception decreased from 19% in 2018 to 11% in 2023. And in January, it was revealed that there has been an increase in the proportion of women in England and Wales seeking abortions despite using 'natural' contraceptive methods, such as fertility tracking apps. The study, which was published in BMJ Sexual And Reproductive Health, discovered that far more women said they use no contraception in 2023 than in 2018 – with the percentage rising from 56% to 70%. Exactly why so many of us are saying 'no, thanks' to the pill is hard to track. But the side effects I experienced could certainly be one reason. The 2023 Channel 4 documentary Davina McCall's Pill Revolution took a long, hard look at contraception in the UK and ignited an avalanche of women sharing their experiences, relaying the havoc it had wreaked on both their sex drive and their mental health. The show's survey of more than 4,000 women and people assigned female at birth revealed that 77% reported side effects while taking the pill and 36% experienced anxiety, depression or low mood. Yet there remains a lack of research exploring the side effects. 'We have lots of different [types of] pills, yet we don't have evidence to say: this pill is better for this person, or this pill is better for that person,' Dr Barter explains. She attributes this dearth of research to the fact that very large, expensive studies would be required. 'And it is safe to say women's health research is not prioritised.' Dr Barter also explains the element of trial and error involved in finding the right contraceptive pill. 'Some women take one [brand of] pill and have a negative experience and give up on the pill entirely. But it can take a while to find a pill that suits you,' she adds. Sarah Salkeld, deputy medical director at MSI Reproductive Choices UK, explains that there are both pros and cons to being on the pill, saying that some pills can reduce the risk of certain cancers, help those with painful or heavy periods, or those who have endometriosis or adenomyosis, as well as PMS. But how many contraceptive pills do you try before you call it a day? Is it any wonder we can feel like guinea pigs in our quest for the 'right' contraception? When I search the hashtag 'naturalbirthcontrol' on Instagram and TikTok, the results are plentiful. In an age when medication is often seen as a first step rather than a last resort, climate change and pollution make headlines daily, and our day-to-day lives are more dominated by blue light from screens than blue skies from time spent in nature, it's perhaps no surprise many of us are looking for a different, simpler way of living. And when so much is out of our control, removing hormonal contraception from our bodies can, understandably, feel like an 'easy' change to make, along with switching to eco-friendly sanitary products and reusable water bottles. On the surface, much of this #naturalbirthcontrol content appears well-meaning (or, for the more cynical, a money grab – after all, many of these influencers' pages contain links selling a huge range of products). But, when I dig a little deeper, there is a darker and far more political agenda at play. 'Many anti-abortion activists in the UK are opposed to what they call 'artificial' means of contraception and this can include the pill,' explains Dr Pam Lowe, a senior lecturer in sociology and policy at Aston University, who specialises in anti-abortion activism in the UK. Indeed, it was my own abortion that led me to going back on the pill. My experience accessing that abortion helped me realise just how overstretched these services are in the UK, and how they could be under attack here. Since millions of women in the US lost their legal right to have an abortion there in 2022, the backlash against contraception has been coming from a range of sources, from right-leaning politicians and celebrities, to 'wellness' influencers. Kristen Louelle Gaffney, a former Sports Illustrated model, influencer and Trump supporter, has made her views about contraception very clear, saying that she has 'never met an attractive, happy, healthy liberal woman' and they would be 'happier' and 'healthier' if they, among other things, ditched 'the birth control that's making them psychotic'. Dr Stephanie Alice Baker, deputy head of the Sociology and Criminology department at City St George's in London, says that while she understands the impulse behind a desire to reject products considered 'unnatural' or 'synthetic', including the pill, this approach can be reductive and over-simplistic. 'The idea that one needs to keep one's body free of 'impurities' overlaps with far- right ideas about infecting or polluting the race and nation,' adds Sian Norris, an investigative journalist who wrote Bodies Under Siege: How The Far-Right Attack On Reproductive Rights Went Global. 'We are seeing that push for 'purity' applied to contraception and abortion. This is incredibly concerning.' She explains that 'we know for women, wellness messaging and 'health' conspiracy theories are a gateway into far-right politics'. We may like to think that we could easily spot when we're being influenced, or swayed into thinking a certain way, but can we, really? Especially when 30% of young adults turn to platforms like TikTok and Instagram for health information, per 2024 polling from AXA Health (which also saw 48% of respondents self-diagnosing using health information online). 'It's not always obvious when posts are funded, directly or indirectly, by organisations with an ideological agenda,' says Louise McCudden, who also works at MSI Reproductive Choices UK. 'We notice social media influencers pushing out messages which certainly align very closely wit the global anti-rights movement. We know that the global anti-rights movement is not just opposed to abortion, but to contraception as well.' Crucially, someone's choice of contraception is a profoundly personal decision. Two things can be true at once: the side effects experienced are real, and need to be talked about; but also, not everyone highlighting these has the best interests of women at heart. There are nefarious forces capitalising on a lack of research into contraception to exploit fear and propagate misinformation. Ultimately, your body is your own; your experience may differ to mine – and that's okay. It's having autonomy over our bodies – including how we protect against pregnancy – that truly matters here. So, as scientists develop options with fewer side effects – and progress is finally made on male contraceptives – it's about weighing up the pros and cons with the help of a health professional and trusting what feels best for you. Oh, and remembering that only condoms protect against STIs. This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Synthetic hormones and the future of contraception
The landscape of contraception for women has seen minimal change over the past 50 years, with successive generations often relying on the same methods. The conventional pill for pregnancy prevention includes brands such as Microgynon or Rigevidon. Alternative options include the hormonal or copper intrauterine device (IUD), injectable contraceptives, the implant, or the vaginal ring. The most prevalent contraceptive pills contain synthetic hormones that emulate the body's natural hormones. These may be predominantly testosterone-based or estrogen-based, each with distinct, nuanced effects. For instance, a pill such as Levonorgestrel tends to have a more testosterone-like effect, including potential side effects such as acne. Meanwhile, the Yasmin pill is more estrogenic, potentially giving clearer skin but increasing the risk of blood clots. Unfortunately, women often receive insufficient information regarding these varied side effects, which are commonly generalised across all pills as headaches, nausea, weight gain, mood swings, tender breasts, or acne. These synthetic hormones function in several ways. Progestin, a mimic of the natural hormone progesterone, thickens cervical mucus to obstruct sperm. The combination pill, which includes both progestin and synthetic estrogen, not only thickens the mucus but also disrupts ovulation. These components are present in oral contraceptives, implants, and hormonal IUDs. The copper IUD operates differently, as copper is toxic to sperm, but it may lead to increased menstrual bleeding. Synthetic hormones can suppress natural hormones and do not always interact identically with the body's receptors. For example, natural progesterone has a calming effect and promotes sleep, whereas the synthetic version, progestin, may bind to incorrect receptors, disrupting the body's balance rather than providing the calming influence of natural progesterone. Moreover, synthetic hormones can influence mental health. Estrogen and serotonin are closely linked, with low estrogen levels correlating with reduced serotonin, leading to emotional blunting. This effect is observed during menopause when estrogen levels decline, resulting in decreased mood and heightened anxiety. Synthetic estrogen, similar to progestin, may not always target the appropriate receptors, causing young women or individuals with female reproductive systems who take the pill to experience emotional effects akin to those of menopause as their bodies produce less natural estrogen in response to the synthetic hormones. In the documentary Pill Revolution, Channel 4 surveyed 4,000 women in the UK and discovered that 64% began using the pill during their school years. Alarmingly, there is a significant research gap on how this might affect brain development in adolescents. The pill is often prescribed with scant information on the potential impact of various synthetic hormones on the body and mind. Of the surveyed women, 77% reported side effects such as weight gain, headaches, decreased mood, and libido. A 2016 Danish study involving over a million women revealed that those using a pill with synthetic progestin were 34% more likely to be prescribed antidepressants within the following year, with users of the hormonal IUD facing a 40% increase. Historical research on birth control was marred by unethical practices. For example, in the 1950s, an asylum in Massachusetts served as a testing ground. Inmates were given high doses of the pill with permission from their families but without their own consent. Three women died from the excessive dosage, and a quarter withdrew from the trial due to headaches and dizziness - symptoms indicative of potential blood clots and strokes. Ideally, the effects of the pill would be studied through randomised control trials with a placebo. However, this approach faces volunteer recruitment challenges, as those seeking contraception wish to ensure pregnancy prevention. Consequently, reliance on surveys of personal experiences with the pill may leave women feeling like experimental subjects in the examination of their bodies. Emerging alternatives include new apps that measure basal body temperature daily. Since ovulation raises body temperature, the app advises the use of a condom during this period. However, factors such as illness or alcohol consumption can affect temperature readings, making these apps just 93% effective. Nonetheless, the onus should not rest solely on women. Ongoing trials are exploring various male contraceptive methods. The NES/T trial in Edinburgh, spanning over a decade, involves a shoulder gel containing progestin and natural testosterone, which significantly reduces sperm count after three months of consistent use. Plan A is another approach, injecting a temporary vasectomy gel into the vas deferens to block sperm, with a subsequent injection available to dissolve the gel. YCT529, still in the experimental phase, targets a receptor involved in sperm function. Whatever the future involves, greater research is needed into birth control. With methods remaining fundamentally unchanged for the past few decades, it is an area of healthcare that has been largely neglected, and the effects of birth control on a person's health and well-being are vastly overlooked. "Synthetic hormones and the future of contraception" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. 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