By Nina Borowski with AFP, AP
A low risk, but one that affects millions of women. In France, 1.6 million women who have taken a desogestrel-based contraceptive (Antigone, Cerazette, Elfasette and Optimizette...) will receive a letter informing them of an increased risk of developing a meningioma, France's National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) announced on Thursday. The health authority stresses, however, that this risk remains "low".
At the same time, around 90,000 doctors who have prescribed these medicines will also be notified.
ANSM recommends that the women concerned consult their doctor if they experience persistent headaches, visual disturbances, muscle weakness, problems with balance or speech, memory loss, or the onset or worsening of epileptic seizures. A brain MRI scan may then be prescribed.
A risk that increases with the length of treatment
