Depo-Provera, the prominent contraceptive injection, has been linked to a heightened risk of developing brain tumors. Users of Depo-Provera are suing Pfizer and other manufacturers for failing to warn users of this risk.
According to British Medical Journal researchers, users of Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) saw a 5.6-fold increased risk of intracranial meningioma.
If you, or a person you love, have used Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) and have been diagnosed with a meningioma brain tumor, fill out the form below to see if you qualify for compensation.
How do I know if I have a claim related to my use of Depo-Provera?
Currently, the criteria for legitimate claims require that:
- A person has used Depo-Provera for more than a year, and
- The person has developed an intracranial meningioma.
What is Depo-Provera?
Depo-Provera, or depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), was introduced to the United States in 1959 and was used to manage menstruation. Decades later, the drug was approved for use by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a contraceptive.
The drug can be administered as an intramuscular shot (DMPA-IM) or as a subcutaneous shot (DMPA-SC), and both forms are FDA-approved. The drug works by releasing a progestin, the hormone DMPA, into the body. This results in a suppression in ovulation as well as a thickening in the cervical mucus, which helps prevent sperm from being able to fertilize an egg.
The FDA has known for decades that long-term use of Depo-Provera has been linked to a significant loss of bone mineral density, with greater loss resulting from longer durations of use. As such, the FDA does not recommend the use of Depo-Provera for longer than 2 years unless other forms of contraception prove inadequate.
A new study published in March of 2024 linking Depo-Provera, among other progestogens, to an increased risk in intracranial meningiomas. The study included 108,366 women who had intracranial surgery for meningioma between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2018. The mean age of the participants was 57.6 years old.
It concluded that prolonged use (1 year or longer) of medroxyprogesterone acetate, brand name Depo-Provera, increased the risk of intracranial meningioma.
What is a meningioma?
Our brains and spinal cords are surrounded by membranes called meninges. So, while a meningioma is a tumor, it is generally not considered a brain tumor. A meningiomais is, however, the most common type of tumor found in the head. Because a meningioma usually grows very slowly, it can take years before symptoms begin to appear. As the tumor begins to grow inside the cranium and/or skull, it begins pushing against the nearby brain tissues, blood vessels, and nerves. Symptoms of an intracranial meningioma can vary depending on what part of the brain the tumor is affecting.
Symptoms of an intracranial meningioma can include:
Headaches
Issues with vision, including blurred vision or double vision
Difficulty speaking
Seizures
Memory loss
Loss of smell
Hearing loss or ear ringing
