Levonorgestrel News and Research

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Some hormonal contraceptives linked to higher risk of breast cancer

Some common hormonal contraceptives are linked to a slightly higher risk of breast cancer than others.

30 Oct 2025

Personalizing endometrial cancer prevention through diet and lifestyle

This review synthesizes emerging evidence on modifiable risk factors for endometrial cancer (EC)-the sixth most common female malignancy globally-with rising incidence despite diagnostic advances.

7 Aug 2025

Long term use of desogestrel linked to small increase in brain tumor risk

Taking the progestogen-only contraceptive pill desogestrel continuously for more than five years is associated with a small increased risk of developing a type of brain tumor called an intracranial meningioma, finds a study from France published by The BMJ today.

12 Jun 2025

Hormonal contraceptives linked to higher postpartum depression risk

Researchers investigate whether the use of hormonal contraception increases the risk of postpartum depression.

4 Apr 2025

Novel long-acting contraceptive implant can be delivered through tiny needles

Mass General Brigham and MIT investigators have developed a long-acting contraceptive implant that can be delivered through tiny needles to minimize patient discomfort and increase the likelihood of medication use.

24 Mar 2025

New MIT method promises less painful drug injections with tiny crystals

MIT engineers have devised a new way to deliver certain drugs in higher doses with less pain, by injecting them as a suspension of tiny crystals.

24 Mar 2025

CPRIT awards nearly $23 million to MD Anderson for cancer research projects

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today was awarded nearly $23 million from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) in support of 20 cancer research projects to advance new breakthroughs in discovery, translational, clinical and prevention science.

20 Feb 2025

Certain progestogens linked to higher brain tumor risk in women, study suggests

Study finds long-term use of specific progestogens increases the risk of benign brain tumors in women, while short-term use and other progestogens do not.

3 Apr 2024

Researchers identify increased brain tumor risk with specific contraceptive use

The intracranial meningioma risk associated with progestogen use.

28 Mar 2024

Long-term use of certain progestogen drugs may raise risk of intracranial meningioma

Prolonged use of certain progestogen hormone drugs is associated with an increased risk of developing a type of brain tumor known as an intracranial meningioma, finds a study from France published by The BMJ today.

27 Mar 2024

Sales of emergency contraception estimated to rise after the New Year holiday

Sales of emergency contraception are estimated to rise by around 10% in the US in the week after the New Year holiday, suggesting that this period is associated with increased risks of unprotected sex compared with other holidays, finds a study published in the Christmas issue of The BMJ.

22 Dec 2023

Hormonal contraceptives taken by adolescents may affect risk assessment behavior

Hormonal contraceptives taken by adolescents may influence development of the brain in a way that alters the recognition of risks, a new study in rats suggests.

13 Nov 2023

Managing menopause: The 2023 toolkit for healthcare practitioners

The authors of the revised 2023 Toolkit extracted key recommendations from professional guidelines and positions as well as consensus statements on menopause and related conditions that have emerged since 2014.

1 Nov 2023

How does taking a pause on the oral contraceptive pill impact mental health?

Users of combination oral contraceptive agents experience one time per month (pill break) was connected with mood changes.

28 Sep 2023

NSAID use linked to higher risk of blood clots in women of reproductive age, association stronger in women on high-risk hormonal contraception

A new paper published in The BMJ explores the effect of these drugs used concomitantly on the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE).

8 Sep 2023

Levonorgestrel-piroxicam co-treatment shows promise as more effective emergency contraception

Taking piroxicam, an anti-inflammatory medication commonly used for arthritis pain, at the same time as the levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill after unprotected sex prevents significantly more pregnancies compared to taking levonorgestrel alone, according to a randomised controlled trial published in The Lancet.

17 Aug 2023

Hormonal contraceptives and breast cancer: what's the risk?

The current study, reported in the PLOS Medicine journal, explored breast cancer risk linked to the current or past use of hormonal contraception during the reproductive period in women.

26 Mar 2023

IUDs work at least as well as tubal ligation at preventing pregnancies, study says

IUDs work at least as well as tubal ligation, while causing fewer side effects, according to a new study.

23 Feb 2022

WHO recommends the use of first long-acting option to protect women from HIV

The first long-acting option to protect women from HIV, proven to reduce women's HIV risk, has been recommended for use by the World Health Organization.

1 Dec 2021

IUDs appear to have systemic effects on the body, breast MRI study shows

Intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) appear to have systemic effects on the body like those of hormone replacement therapy, according to a breast MRI study being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

22 Nov 2021