Still widely prescribed in France, the contraceptive pill is gaining a bad reputation among a growing number of women due to its side effects. The French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) has decided to inform 1.6 million women taking desogestrel of a small risk of meningioma, a brain tumor that is most often non-cancerous.
What does the ANSM alert mean?
Pills containing the progestin desogestrel (Antigone, Cerazette, Elfasette, Optimizette, etc.) account for nearly half of all contraceptive pills used in France. Pills combining an estrogen and a progestin, such as levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol, make up the other half.
They are generally "« prescribed for women who have more cardiovascular problems«", because they are not"« not associated with a risk of thrombosis«", and are "« highly recommended by women in the postpartum and breastfeeding periods«" , emphasizes Dr. Isabelle Yoldjian, medical director of the ANSM.
A landmark study has confirmed an increased risk« weak » of meningioma (1 case per 67,000 users, 1 per 17,000 after five years of use) in women taking desogestrel for a prolonged period, particularly after 45 years of age, and in those who have previously taken a progestin at risk (Androcur, Lutényl, Lutéran).
The drug agency is therefore writing to some 1.6 million women who have taken desogestrel to inform them of this risk.
“ This form of contraception is not being called into question under any circumstances.«", Dr. Yoldjian points out.
Should we be afraid of the pills?
No, say healthcare professionals. The most frequently reported side effects are irregular bleeding, weight gain, mood swings, decreased libido… But « the risk/benefit balance remains extremely favorable«" , wants to reassure Dr. Geoffroy Robin, gynecologist at the University Hospital of Lille.
Because beyond preventing unwanted pregnancies, some pills also have secondary benefits: they relieve pain related to endometriosis and protect against certain cancers: colon, endometrium, ovary.
For Isabelle Derrendinger, president of the National Council of the Order of Midwives, this warning primarily illustrates "« the lack of scientific data on women's health«", which we are currently catching up with.
A growing disaffection?
In 2005, more than half of women aged 18 to 49 used the contraceptive pill. In 2023, this figure had fallen to just 26.81%, according to the survey "Context of sexualities in France" (Inserm, 2024).
Among younger people (18-29 years old), it remains the most widely used method but has fallen to 36.61% in 2023 compared to 54.31% in 2016, particularly since the revelation in 2013 of increased risks associated with third- and fourth-generation pills. That same year, a young woman left disabled after a stroke filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer of a third-generation pill – a case that was dismissed in 2017.
Since then, reigns« a climate of hormonephobia«", laments Dr. Robin, fueled in particular by "« a lot of misinformation on social media“.
Many young women wish to return to a "more natural" cycle and some opt for alternative practices: calendar method, observation of body temperature, cervical mucus.
But their effectiveness is "« modest »"And they are not suitable for women with irregular cycles," Dr. Robin points out.
Which methods are the most popular?
The IUD is the most popular contraceptive method used by women aged 18 to 49, with 27.71% of users (Inserm) in 2023: now better trained, gynecologists are also offering it to women without children.
Contraception still relies mainly on women even though the number of vasectomies (permanent male sterilization) has increased 26-fold in fifteen years, reaching 57,666 in 2025 (Epi-Phare study).
Favored by more than one in four women aged 18 to 29 (22.31% in 2023), the condom could be used even more, according to Ms. Derrendinger, for whom "« Sexually transmitted infections are a much greater concern than the risk of meningioma with desogestrel.“.
Read alsoDesogestrel-based medications: limited monitoring in the face of risks deemed low
Why is it necessary to reassess your contraception regularly?
There is no single ideal method of contraception: what works for a 20-year-old is not the same as what works for a 40-year-old; the body, health, and life plans all change. Therefore, it should be regularly reviewed with a doctor, midwife, or gynecologist, taking into account its potential side effects and benefits. The French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) recommends, from the age of 35, having a hormonal assessment of any treatments taken up to that point.
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