Considering the Use of Female Hormone Therapy in Women With Cerebral Cavernous Malformations: An Editorial.

Understanding the role of exogenous hormone therapy (e.g., oral contraception [OCP] or menopausal hormone therapy [MHT]) in stroke risk is critical for risk factor assessment and modification in female patients of all ages. For OCPs, in population-based studies and meta-analyses, data on risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) associated with OCPs suggest little to no increased risk,(1,2) although there may be a small increased risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage.(1) For MHT, randomized trial data do not suggest an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.(3) Little is known, however, about hemorrhagic stroke risk associated with exogenous hormones in female patients with cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) specifically.