Over the past couple of years, retrospective studies from both the United States and Europe have reported a significant association between use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (dMPA) and development of meningiomas. Colleagues from various departments across UCT recently published a report in the SAMJ highlighting the lack of comparable data in South Africa. dMPA is also used in SA in a far larger proportion of patients and is a significant component of contraceptive choices. They emphasise the need for local prospective studies and strengthening of electronic data collection systems. In the interim they advise cautious use of dMPA for more than two years, prompt review of symptoms suggestive of meningioma such as new-onset headaches and shared decision-making regarding contraceptive choices.

Read the full article here.