Danish researchers analyzed data from women aged 15 to 59 over a 25-year period.
The aim was to investigate whether the use of hormonal contraception could be linked to the development of meningiomas, the most common type of brain tumor in adults, according to The Sun.
The study included 1,473 women diagnosed with meningiomas and 14,717 women without the condition.
Information on contraceptive use was obtained from the Danish National Prescription Registry, and the findings were published in JAMA Network Open.
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The risk is small
The researchers emphasized that more studies are needed before the observed association can be explained.
Other experts also pointed out that the overall risk is very low and that the study does not provide sufficient evidence to justify changes to current clinical practice.
They also stressed that contraception remains an important tool for preventing unintended pregnancies and that decisions about contraceptive methods should be made in consultation with a doctor.
Some types showed a higher risk
The study found that some progestin-only contraceptives were associated with a higher risk of meningiomas than in women who did not use hormonal contraception.
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The highest risk was observed among women who received medroxyprogesterone acetate injections.
An association was also found for certain types of combined oral contraceptive pills, progestin-only pills, and hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs).
The risk was highest among women who were using the contraceptives at the time of the study or had used them within the previous year.
For most contraceptive products, the increased risk disappeared within five years after treatment had been discontinued.
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