Italy’s medicines regulator, AIFA, has issued a new note updating the safety profile of two contraceptive active ingredients, desogestrel and etonogestrel, according to Mondosanità. The update follows a review that found a slight increase in the risk of meningioma, a type of brain tumor, associated with prolonged use of these drugs.
The new AIFA note changes the contraindications for both substances, which are commonly used in birth control pills and implants. Mondosanità reports that the decision aligns with a broader European assessment, as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has also updated its recommendations on these products.
The move is based on data showing that long-term use of desogestrel and etonogestrel carries a small but measurable increase in meningioma risk. This is not an immediate or common side effect, but regulators have determined that the information should be reflected in the official product guidance so that doctors can weigh the risks when prescribing.
Italian media coverage has been careful to stress that the finding should not cause alarm. The Corriere della Sera quoted a gynecologist who said there is no reason for panic, emphasizing that the absolute risk remains low. ANSA also reported the same core finding: that these two active ingredients cause a slight increase in meningioma risk, not a dramatic one.
For patients currently using these contraceptives, the advice is not to stop treatment abruptly but to discuss any concerns with a healthcare provider. The updated note gives doctors a clearer framework for assessing individual risk, particularly for women who have been on these products for several years.
What to watch next: whether AIFA’s note leads to similar label changes in other EU countries and how clinical guidance for long-term contraceptive users evolves in response.
