Latest news with #progesterone
The Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Taking common contraceptive pill long-term could increase your risk of life-threatening brain tumour, scientists warn
TAKING a progesterone-only contraceptive pill for more than five years is linked to an increased risk of a life-threatening brain tumour, say scientists. Desogestrel is a synthetic progestogen hormone used in oral contraceptives, specifically the progestogen-only pill (POP) or mini-pill. 1 While it offers several benefits beyond preventing pregnancy, such as regulating the menstrual cycle, reducing heavy or painful periods, new research suggests taking it continuously for more than five years is linked to a small increased risk of developing an intracranial meningioma. An intracranial meningioma is a tumour that develops from the meninges, the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord. These tumours are typically benign (non- cancerous) and slow-growing. But they can be life-threatening depending on size, location, and growth rate. The tumours are more common in older women, but previous studies lack information on the specific type of progestogen used - and risk has not been measured for continuous, current, and long term use. In the study from France published by The BMJ, researchers set out to assess the real-life risk of the brain tumour and short-term (less than a year) and prolonged (one to seven or more years) use of oral contraceptives containing desogestrel 75µg, levonorgestrel 30µg, or levonorgestrel 50-150 µg combined with oestrogen. Their findings were based on data from the French national health data system (SNDS) for 8,391 women who had undergone surgery for intracranial meningioma in 2020-2023. Each case was matched to 10 control women without meningioma of the same age and area of residence. The results showed a small increased risk associated with use of desogestrel for more than five continuous years. An increased risk wasn't found for shorter durations or when desogestrel had been discontinued for more than one year. Women taking fat jabs need 'effective contraception' - as health chiefs warn of serious harm to unborn babies The risk was greater in women older than 45 and after prolonged use of one of the known high risk progestogens before desogestrel. Although the researchers added the risk disappeared one year after stopping taking the pill. It was estimated that 67,000 women would need to use desogestrel for one woman to need surgery for intracranial meningioma, and 17,000 women if current use was for more than five years. No increased risk was found for levonorgestrel, alone or combined with oestrogen, regardless of duration of use. The researchers suggested desogestrel be discontinued if an intracranial meningioma is identified and patients monitored rather than undergoing immediate surgery. Desogestrel safety Desogestrel, when used as a progestogen-only pill (POP), is generally considered safe and effective, but it has some potential side effects and risks. But it's important to discuss any concerns with a healthcare professional. Highly effective When taken correctly, it's more than 99 per cent effective in preventing pregnancy. No protection against STIs The POP doesn't protect against sexually transmitted infections, so it's essential to use condoms for STI protection. Important to take regularly You need to take it at or around the same time every day, without breaks between packs. Possible side effects Ovarian cysts Some users might develop small, fluid-filled cysts on their ovaries, which are generally not dangerous and often resolve on their own. When to seek medical advice
Health Line
10-05-2025
- Health
- Health Line
How Do Cholesterol and Progesterone Affect Fertility and Pregnancy?
Cholesterol and progesterone play vital roles in the human body. One major role is reproduction. Both are hormones that may affect fertility, pregnancy, and miscarriage. Cholesterol and progesterone are important hormones that have multiple effects on the body. Though they work through different mechanisms, each is involved in reproduction. Your levels of cholesterol and progesterone can affect both fertility and pregnancy. What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is an important part of cell membranes and is also used to produce steroid hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone. Cholesterol is made in the liver. The liver also produces lipoproteins that transport cholesterol in the blood. These lipoproteins are LDL and HDL. LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) is cholesterol that LDLs carry, and HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) is carried by HDLs. The body typically has higher levels of LDL cholesterol than HDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol, along with other types of non-HDL cholesterol, is the type of cholesterol doctors are typically referring to when they say 'high cholesterol.' It's rare to have too much HDL cholesterol, but it can happen. What is progesterone? Progesterone is an important hormone with many functions in the body, particularly those related to the reproductive system. Progesterone is a type of hormone called a steroid hormone. All steroid hormones are derived from cholesterol. The body uses cholesterol as a building block to create progesterone. This process involves enzymes. First, cholesterol is converted into pregnenolone using the enzyme P450scc. Then the enzyme 3β-HSD turns this into progesterone. Progesterone can be produced in different parts of the body, such as the: It's also thought to be produced in the brain. How do cholesterol and progesterone affect fertility? In the middle of the menstrual cycle, the corpus luteum produces progesterone to help prepare the body for the implantation of a fertilized egg. Progesterone keeps the uterus lining thick and stimulates the development of new blood vessels ready for egg implantation. This means when the egg is fertilized, it can implant and will have a supply of blood vessels that nutrients can travel through. In males, the adrenal glands produce progesterone to aid sperm development. Imbalances in cholesterol can have a knock-on effect on progesterone, as cholesterol is required for the synthesis of this hormone. How are cholesterol and progesterone involved in pregnancy? During pregnancy, cholesterol levels increase to support fetal growth and development and enable the pregnant person to produce healthy breast milk. Maternal blood cholesterol may increase by 30% to 40%. Since cholesterol is used to produce progesterone, this rise is to allow more progesterone to be produced. If cholesterol levels get too high, however, hypercholesterolemia may occur. In pregnant people, this is known as gestational hypercholesterolemia or maternal hypercholesterolemia. An imbalance of blood lipids (dyslipidemia) can be dangerous for both the pregnant person and the unborn child and may cause cardiovascular effects. How do cholesterol and progesterone affect miscarriage? According to a 2019 study, the regulation of cholesterol and progesterone metabolism may have a role in miscarriage. During pregnancy, cells called extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) create a blood supply to the fetus. Problems with this cell type have been linked to complications in both the pregnant person and the fetus. The 2019 study looked at human EVTs from first-trimester placental tissues. Researchers found that the way cholesterol levels are regulated is different in these cells, and the levels of cholesterol are higher. The study also shows that these EVTs can secrete progesterone. Lower levels of cholesterol were found to decrease the amount of progesterone produced by these cells. Additionally, an enzyme involved in producing progesterone was found to be lower in EVTs that had been associated with spontaneous abortions. This suggests that the issues with progesterone metabolism may have a role to play in early miscarriages.
Times
07-05-2025
- Health
- Times
Contraceptive ‘mini pill' linked to asthma attacks in younger women
The progesterone-only contraceptive pill may be linked to a higher risk of potentially life-threatening asthma attacks in younger women, research has suggested. Researchers from Imperial College London have found that women taking the so-called 'mini pill' had a 39 per cent increased risk of asthma attacks compared with women who had never taken the contraceptive. The mini-pill is a once-daily contraceptive pill taken by approximately 3.1 million women in Britain each year. • Why are so many women turning away from the pill? The research could provide an answer as to why women have a higher rate of severe asthma compared with men, the researchers said. Chloe Bloom, a clinical senior lecturer in respiratory epidemiology at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London,
