Birth control methods that use one hormone raise breast cancer risk as much as those with a combo, study finds
NBCNov 29, 2022
The Facts
According to a French study published in the British Medical Journal, certain progesterone birth control injections were linked to a 560% increase in brain tumors.
The tumors, called intracranial meningioma, are usually non-cancerous but can cause other issues — including vision, hearing, smell, and memory loss, as well as seizures and weakness — since they're located around the brain and spinal cord.
The Spin
Narrative A
The data in this study is important and women should use it as part of their decision-making process. But until scientists delve deeper into the causation, it appears the risks associated with progesterone are low. More research is needed before any definitive conclusions are drawn.
Narrative B
Unfortunately, hormone-based contraception — particularly the pill — was once lauded but it's turning out to cause more harm than predicted. The world must know how these synthetic hormone disruptors cause physical ailments like blood clots and mental issues like depression.