Women who used the birth control shot Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) for an extended period are more than five times more likely to develop brain tumors, according to the results of a recently published study. 

According to the study, women who received Depo Provera contraceptive injections for 12 months or more were 5.76-times more likely to develop tumors known as meningioma, which form in tissues around the brain. 

The study was conducted by researchers at the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety and published earlier this year in the British Medical Journal. 

Increased Risk of Meningioma Brain Tumors with Depo-Provera

Depo-Provera is an injectable form of birth control that contains the hormone progestin. This medication is administered in the form of a shot in a doctor’s office every three months. A lower dose form of the medication is also sold under the brand name Depo-SubQ Provera 104. 

The researchers who conducted the BMJ study analyzed the medical histories of more than 18,000 women in France who underwent surgery to remove meningioma brain tumors. Researchers then examined the health records of these women to look for a correlation between their brain tumors and the types of birth control that they used. 

Researchers found that women who had received the Depo shot for 12 months or more were 5.76 times more likely to have undergone surgery for meningioma tumors. 

Side Effects of Meningioma Brain Tumors

Meningioma – the form of brain tumor linked to Depo-Provera – is type of intracranial tumor that can form in the tissues that surround the brain or the spinal cord. Meningioma accounts for about 40% of all tumors affecting the central nervous system. 

Although meningiomas are a benign type of tumor – meaning that it is not cancerous – being diagnosed with these tumors may carry additional dangerous health risks. As meningioma tumors grow larger, they can cause side effects in the brain or spinal cord, including blurry vision, headaches, numbness, and seizures.  

Because of these side effects, patients who are diagnosed with meningioma may have to have their tumors surgically removed. Being forced to undergo brain surgery to remove meningioma tumors puts patients at an increased risk of complications following surgery. 

First Depo-Provera Lawsuit Filed Against Pfizer

The first Depo-Provera lawsuit involving brain tumors linked to the birth control shot was filed against Pfizer, the manufacturer of the drug, in October 2024 by a woman who was diagnosed with meningioma after being treated with Depo-Provera. 

Because the link between the Depo shot and brain tumors was only recently discovered, women who used Depo Provera for more than 12 months and were diagnosed with meningioma may be able to file a product liability lawsuit against the manufactures of the drug and receive compensation. 

As of October 2024, there are no class action lawsuits against Pfizer concerning brain tumors linked to Depo-Provera. However, as more women who were affected by the birth control shot come forward, it is possible that a Depo Provera class action lawsuit against Pfizer may be filed in the future. 

Contact a Lawyer & Start Your Claim Today

If you or a loved one received Depo Provera birth control shots for more than 12 months are were diagnosed with the brain tumor meningioma, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit and receive compensation. 

Start your claim today by contacting the lawyers at Hissey Mulderig & Friend for a free legal consultation. 

You can contact our office by calling toll-free at 1-866-806-8117, or send us a message using our free claims submission form at the top of this page.  

After we receive your submission, a female member of our staff will contact you confidentially to obtain more information about your case and help you determine whether you may be eligible to take legal action