Hormonal contraceptives linked to brain tumors

LONG-TERM use of hormonal contraceptives comprising at least five years could increase the risk of developing a rare tumor, glioma of the brain, according to the findings of a study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

 

Women the world over use hormonal contraceptives, including oral types, that contain female sex hormones. While the causes of glioma and other brain tumors remain unknown, some evidence suggest female sex hormones may increase the risk of some types of cancer. Other studies indicate contraceptives reduce the risk in certain age groups.   

 

Research team leader Dr. David Gaist of the Odense University Hospital and University of Southern Denmark said the lack of confirmed data prompted them to evaluate whether using hormonal contraceptives might influence the risk of gliomas in women of the age range who use them.

 

Using data from Denmark’s national administrative and health registries, the team identified all women in Denmark aged between 15 and 49 and had a first-time diagnosis of glioma between 2000 and 2009. The researchers found 317 cases. They then compared these women with eight age-matched women without gliomas.

 

The team found a statistically significant link between hormonal contraceptive use and glioma risk. Dr. Gaist, however, said that a risk-benefit evaluation would still favor the use of hormonal contraceptives in eligible users. 

 

Dr. Gaist noted the importance of evaluating long-term contraceptive use in order to help women choose the best contraception for them. He added, “It is important to keep this apparent increase in risk in context. In a population of women in the reproductive age, including those who use hormonal contraceptives, you would anticipate seeing 5 in 100,000 people develop a glioma annually, according to the nationwide Danish Cancer Registry.”

 

While acknowledging the value of the study findings and hoping they can be used for further research on the relationship between female hormonal agents and glioma risk, Dr. Gaist emphasizes the need to interpret the findings with care.