JAMA Netw Open. 2026 Jul 1;9(7):e2622603. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.22603.
ABSTRACT
IMPORTANCE: Meningioma is a known adverse reaction of high-dose progestogens, but evidence regarding the risk associated with progestogens used as contraception is limited.
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether different progestogens used as hormonal contraception are associated with increased risk of meningiomas.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This nested case-control study conducted over a 25-year study period from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2024, is a Danish nationwide population-based register study, which included 3 million females aged 15 to 59 years with residence in Denmark. Meningioma cases were dentified, and for each case, 10 controls were matched on age, birthplace, and marital status and randomly selected from the cohort if considered eligible on the day of the case’s meningioma diagnosis. Data were analyzed from July 10, 2025, to May 12, 2026.
EXPOSURE: Use of progestogens was identified in the registers by date of dispensing or procedural records and grouped by route of administration and active substance. Exposure time was determined by redeemed daily doses or product duration. If a female switched to a different product or became pregnant, her exposure time was changed to the new exposure. The females included were allocated to their most recent use, defined as the exposure closest to the matching date.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The main outcome was incident meningioma and was identified in the Danish National Cancer Register using validated International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision diagnoses and International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition codes.
RESULTS: A total of 1473 cases and 14 717 controls with a median age of 48 years (IQR, 42-53 years) were included in the nested cohort. For combined oral contraceptives, the estimated odds ratios (ORs) for the association between use of progestogens and meningioma were 1.61 (95% CI, 1.00-2.59) with cyproterone, 1.66 (95% CI, 1.31-2.10) with desogestrel, 1.58 (95% CI, 1.05-2.37) with drospirenone, 1.44 (95% CI, 1.17-1.77) with gestodene, 1.40 (95% CI, 1.12-1.76) with levonorgestrel, 1.38 (95% CI, 0.77-2.47) with norethisterone, and 1.04 (95% CI, 0.70-1.54) with norgestimate. For oral progestogen-only contraceptives, the ORs were 1.73 (95% CI, 1.17-2.56) with desogestrel and 0.95 (95% CI, 0.57-1.57) with norethisterone. For injectable medroxyprogesterone, the OR was 4.55 (95% CI, 2.19-9.45). For intrauterine devices (IUDs) with high-dose levonorgestrel, the OR was 1.58 (95% CI, 1.28-1.94), and for IUDs with low-dose levonorgestrel, the OR was 1.14 (95% CI, 0.59-2.22). Exposure within the past year was associated with the highest risk.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this case-control study conducted using data from the entire Danish population, recent use of the contraceptive progestogens cyproterone, desogestrel, drospirenone, gestodene, levonorgestrel, injectable medroxyprogesterone, and high-dose IUD was associated with increased risk of meningioma. These findings are considered relevant information for the treated women and the prescribing physicians.
PMID:42390859 | DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.22603
