In a statement, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM) indicated that patients using these contraceptives, sold under various names such as Optimizette and Cérazette, do not need to undergo systematic MRI, as the risk of meningioma remains very low compared to other progestins. This risk, revealed by an Epi-Phare study at the end of 2024, concerns the prolonged use (more than 5 years) of desogestrel 75 µg. Although not fatal, this brain tumor can cause significant sequelae. The ANSM recommends targeted examinations only in the presence of suggestive symptoms (headaches, visual or language disorders) or after prolonged use of at-risk progestins. In contrast, systematic MRI monitoring is recommended for medications such as Androcur or Lutényl, with a high risk of meningioma. The agency is working to incorporate these warnings into the leaflets via the EMA and extends its recommendations to desogestrel 150 µg and the Nexplanon implant. It also insists on the annual reevaluation of women's contraceptions after 45 years, depending on their health, lifestyle, and choices. Finally, the ANSM emphasizes that desogestrel should not be used as a hormone treatment for menopause.
 Sophie de Duiéry
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20/03/2025 | 
