EMA Issues New Safety Warnings for Desogestrel and Etonogestrel Contraceptives

In early August, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended that product information for hormonal contraceptives containing desogestrel or etonogestrel be updated with new precautionary statements. The agency identified a rare association with meningioma, estimating roughly one additional case per 67,300 long‑term users. EMA emphasized that the overall risk is low and that the benefits of contraception for most women outweigh the potential harm.

Separately, commentators have highlighted the presence of the synthetic estrogen ethinyl estradiol (EE2) from contraceptive pills in surface waters. EE2 is persistent, bio‑accumulates in aquatic organisms, and at nanogram concentrations has been linked to feminisation of male fish and potential endocrine effects in humans. Although usage of EE2‑containing pills is limited in Croatia, the environmental accumulation raises concerns about broader ecological and health impacts.