What a better date on March 8, International Day of Women's Rights to mention the risks of the undesirable effects of progestin treatments and bring my testimony to illustrate these words.

I have long hesitated to testify and if I do it today it is to prevent women and avoid them to undergo the same cataclysm. 

Health is far too large for you to be silent.

I am 54 years old and from 2006 to the end of 2020, for 14 years, I took on the gynecological prescription of the lutenyl, the overgestone and the colprone in order to relieve painful cysts with the breasts and as a contraceptive.

Despite many increasingly frequent, and increasingly violent headaches reported to various doctors, general practitioners, ophthalmologist and gynecologist, I did not do any other exams.

It was in August 2020 after terrible dizziness preventing me from getting up that I decided to consult an ENT. I spent a brain MRI on November 24, 2020. The result fell and the diagnosis then reveals 3 brain tumors .

Everything collapses then and forever upsets my daily life.

In November 2021, I suffered a first operation to remove an occipital osteo meningioma. 

The second large meningioma and unfortunately very badly located in the optical chiasma and pressing the two nerves cannot be operated on the neurosurgeons. 

In May 2022, after several years of waiting, I am leaving in Nice to the Antoine Lacassagne center to do 30 proton therapy sessions to try to reduce the tumor that compresses and damages my optical nerves.

Unfortunately this will have no effect on the tumor. 

In December 2023, my state of health deteriorated and the neurosurgeon announced me that it is necessary to operate in an emergency to avoid the worst, that is to say to lose your sight.

On February 1, 2024, despite the many risks, I therefore underwent a new and second intervention to withdraw meningioma. 

I go quickly done voluntarily, without going into details on physical and psychological pain, however very real.

Today for me the next step in this obstacle course that has lasted for more than 3 years is convalescence, acceptance of disability, damage in everyday life and the impact of the effects of taking these drugs in my family, sentimental and professional life.

Unfortunately, I am not alone in this case, we are thousands and we are fortunate to be understood, accompanied and supported by the Amavea association chaired by Emmanuelle Huet-Mignaton which works a lot for all of us.

Faced with the major risk of developing meningiomas, I would like to tell all women who follow progesterone treatment or who must do so that this is not without risk and that they must associate it with brain MRI monitoring in order to verify that everything is fine.

Our health is our most precious property we must take care of it.