Depo-Provera Causes Brain Tumors?! 😬🧠😬

Meningiomas are common intracranial tumors with a female predominance. The vast majority of these tumors are benign (World Health Organization [WHO] grade 1) while 15% to 20% of these tumors can behave atypically (WHO grade 2) and rarely, in 1% to 2% of cases, these tumors can be malignant (WHO grade 3) Their etiology is still poorly documented. The role of sexual hormones has long been proposed, but data have been conflicting across studies. However, a dose-dependent relationship between the incidence and growth of meningiomas and hormonal treatment with the synthetic progestin cyproterone acetate (CPA) has been recently established (2021). Now, a new observational study from France (BMJ) has raised the warning flag for a similar association with a common birth control option, depo medroxyprogesterone acetate. Does Depo-Provera cause brain tumors? It's very important to put this study into proper context. We’ll explain all of this, and more, in this episode.