The study focused on progestins, which are synthetic hormones that mimic progesterone, a natural female sex hormone. Progestins are widely used in birth control pills, menopausal hormone therapy, and the treatment of endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. The study examined the link between progestins and a benign brain tumor called intracranial meningioma. This tumor grows in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord and can sometimes require surgery if it puts pressure on these structures.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 100,000 women and compared those who had meningioma surgery with a control group. The study found a significant association between long-term (more than a year) use of certain progestins and an increased risk of meningioma requiring surgery.
It is important to note that the study acknowledges limitations. It cannot definitively prove cause and effect and does not provide detailed information on all potential reasons for prescribing progestins. Additionally, factors such as genetic predisposition and radiation exposure were not taken into account. Despite these limitations, the study’s findings deserve further study. Given the widespread use of medroxyprogesterone acetate (estimated at 74 million users worldwide), the potential number of women affected may be significant.
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Source: Ferra
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