Key Points

• A meningioma described as benign is still a brain tumor. Women diagnosed with one after using the Depo-Provera birth control shot may qualify to file a lawsuit and receive compensation. 
• Most meningiomas in the Depo-Provera litigation are WHO Grade I tumors, the grade doctors commonly call benign. A cancer diagnosis is not required to file a claim. 
• Benign meningiomas can require brain surgery, radiation, and years of imaging, and those harms form the basis of a legal claim. 

Why It Matters

The word benign stops more women from calling a lawyer than any other word in a meningioma pathology report. A neurosurgeon says the tumor is not cancer, the woman feels relief, and she assumes that relief also means she has no legal case. That assumption is wrong. The Depo-Provera lawsuits are built on the allegation that women developed meningioma brain tumors they were never warned about, not on whether those tumors were malignant. Women who rule themselves out based on the word benign may be giving up a claim while filing deadlines continue to run. 

Understanding What Benign Means in a Meningioma Diagnosis

Studies have linked prolonged use of the Depo-Provera birth control shot to an increased risk of meningioma, a type of tumor that grows in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.  

The large majority of meningiomas linked to Depo-Provera are non-cancerous. However, a benign, or non-cancerous tumor, does not mean that birth control shot users are ineligible to file a lawsuit.  

If you or a loved one was diagnosed with a meningioma brain tumor after receiving Depo-Provera or a generic version of the shot, you may still be eligible to file a lawsuit and receive compensation. The lawyers at Hissey Mulderig & Friend are reviewing meningioma claims from women across the United States. Call our office toll-free at 1-866-806-8117 or send us a message to start your claim today using the free contact form on the right side of this page. 

Why a Benign Tumor Can Still Cause Serious Harm

A meningioma does not have to be cancerous to damage a woman’s health. These tumors grow inside a fixed space. As they enlarge, they press against the brain, the optic nerves, the cranial nerves, or the spinal cord. 

Side effects from these tumors reported by women in the Depo-Provera litigation include vision loss, hearing loss, seizures, chronic headaches, memory problems, balance difficulty, facial numbness, and changes in personality or concentration. Many of these effects are permanent. 

Treatment for meningioma tumors carries its own burden. A craniotomy, the surgical procedure in which a section of the skull is opened to remove a tumor, is major brain surgery with a long recovery. Other women undergo stereotactic radiosurgery, often called Gamma Knife or CyberKnife treatment.  

Women who used the Depo shot and whose brain tumors are not removed with surgery are frequently placed on active surveillance, meaning repeat MRI scans for years or for life. Lawsuits have alleged that women exposed to Depo-Provera may require lifetime monitoring for brain tumors because of this risk. 

None of that is what most people picture when they hear the word benign. 

How Meningiomas Brain Tumors Are Graded

The World Health Organization classifies meningiomas into three grades based on how the tumor cells appear under a microscope. 

Grade I meningiomas are the most common and are the tumors typically described as benign. They grow slowly and rarely spread. Grade II meningiomas are called atypical. They grow faster and return more often after treatment. Grade III meningiomas are called anaplastic or malignant. They are aggressive and uncommon. 

The majority of women filing Depo-Provera lawsuits were diagnosed with Grade I tumors. Tumor grade may affect the value of an individual claim, but it does not determine whether a woman can take legal action. 

The Litigation Does Not Require a Cancer Diagnosis

The federal Depo-Provera cases are consolidated in a multidistrict litigation, or MDL, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, where the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized the litigation in February 2025. Cases that were transferred to the Depo-Provera MDL all share common allegations that the birth control shot can cause users to develop one or more meningiomas. 

In order to join the litigation or file an individual lawsuit, the only requirement after using Depo-Provera is a meningioma diagnosis. Tumor location and tumor grade may shape an individual claim, but do not disqualify patients from taking legal action. Women diagnosed with the most common cranial subtypes, including sphenoid wing and parasagittal meningioma, are squarely within the litigation, and nearly all of those tumors are benign. 

The lawsuits against Depo-Provera allege that Pfizer and other manufacturers knew about the association between medroxyprogesterone acetate (the active ingredient in the Depo shot) and meningioma, but failed to warn women and their doctors.  

The FDA has since approved a label update for Depo-Provera that includes a warning about meningioma. That warning does not distinguish between benign and malignant tumors, and neither does the litigation. 

Who May Qualify to File a Depo-Provera Meningioma Lawsuit

Women may be eligible to file a Depo-Provera lawsuit and receive compensation if they meet the following case criteria: 

1. Used the Depo-Provera birth control shot, Depo-SubQ Provera 104, or a generic medroxyprogesterone acetate injection. 
2. Received the injections for approximately one year or longer, generally understood as four or more consecutive doses. 
3. Were later diagnosed with an intracranial or spinal meningioma, including a tumor described as benign or WHO Grade I. 
4. Have the diagnosis documented through MRI or CT imaging, a neurology or neurosurgery evaluation, or a pathology report. 
5. Are filing within the deadline that applies in their state. 

Women who are unsure whether their history fits these criteria can review our guide on who qualifies for a Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuit or speak with an attorney directly. 

How a Benign Diagnosis Affects Claim Value

Tumor grade is one of several factors that may affect what a claim is worth, but it is not the only one and often not the most important one. What generally matters more is what the tumor did and what treatment it required. 

A Grade I meningioma that required a craniotomy, left a woman with permanent vision loss, and kept her out of work for months can support a substantial claim.  

Attorneys and courts will consider medical expenses that have already incurred, anticipated future monitoring costs, lost wages and reduced earning ability, lasting physical effects, and pain and suffering when assessing a Depo-Provera claim. Our overview of the damages available in these cases explains the above categories in more detail. 

In June 2026, Pfizer reached a settlement in principle to resolve many of the federal cases. The terms have not been made public, and the agreement does not cover every claim. Women considering legal action can read more about how the settlement may affect their legal options. 

Filing Deadlines Apply to Benign Diagnoses

A statute of limitations is a law that limits how long a person has to file a lawsuit after an injury. These deadlines vary by state, and in most states the clock begins when a woman received a meningioma diagnosis, rather than on the date of her last birth control injection. 

These filing deadlines do not pause because a tumor was benign, because a woman is on watchful waiting, or because a settlement has been announced. Our state-by-state guide to Depo-Provera filing deadlines explains how these rules work. 

Talk With a Depo-Provera Lawyer About Your Diagnosis

A benign meningioma is still a brain tumor, and women who developed one after using Depo-Provera should not assume the word benign closed the door on their legal rights. A free case review is the only reliable way to find out whether a diagnosis qualifies. 

If you or a loved one used the Depo-Provera birth control shot and was later diagnosed with a meningioma brain tumor, the attorneys at Hissey Mulderig & Friend can review your case at no cost. There is no fee to speak with a lawyer, and no legal fees unless we recover damages in your claim.  

Find out whether you qualify or start your claim today by contacting the lawyers at Hissey Mulderig & Friend toll-free at 1-866-806-8117 or send us a message online using the free contact form at the top of this page.