Depo-Provera: Risks, Studies & Legal Concerns

Depo-Provera is a prescription birth control injection containing a progestin hormone called medroxyprogesterone acetate. The FDA approved it to prevent pregnancy in 1992.

Women typically get the shot from a medical provider every three months, but a lower-dose version called Depo-SubQ Provera 104 can be self-administered. It works by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg. It also thickens mucus in the cervix and thins the lining of the uterus, making it more difficult for the egg to be fertilized.

Depo-Provera is most commonly used by younger women who want an effective, maintenance-free birth control method and those who cannot use estrogen or who have had difficulty with other birth control methods.

However, Depo-Provera’s link to meningioma brain tumors has given rise to Depo-Provera lawsuits against Pfizer and Pharmacia & Upjohn Company, claiming the companies failed to warn the public of the risk.

One of the most concerning health risks and injuries associated with Depo-Provera is an increased risk of a tumor in the lining of the brain called a meningioma.

“Meningioma is the most common type of primary brain tumor, accounting for approximately 30% of all brain tumors,” clinical pharmacist Dazhi Liu told Drugwatch. “These tumors originate in the meninges, which are the outer three layers of tissue between the skull and the brain that cover and protect the brain just under the skull.”

What Do Studies Say?

A March 2024 French study published in BMJ found that Depo-Provera may be linked to a higher risk of developing a meningioma. According to researchers, Depo-Provera users had a 5.6-fold increase in the risk of developing a meningioma after long-term use for more than a year.

An American study published in Cancers in September 2024 confirmed the meningioma risk found in the BMJ study. Researchers found that Depo-Provera use was associated with a 53% increased odds of developing a meningioma, and the risk went up with duration of use.

Meningioma Symptoms

Meningioma symptoms include vision or hearing changes or weakness in the arms or legs. Meningiomas may also cause headaches that are worse in the morning.

If you experience sudden changes in vision, memory or the onset of seizures, seek emergency care.

Other Serious Depo-Provera Side Effects

Other serious Depo-Provera side effects listed on Depo-Provera’s prescription label include bone density loss, increased risk of breast cancer and allergic reactions.

Depo-Provera and DepoSubQ-Provera have black box warnings for bone mineral density loss. A black box warning is the FDA’s strongest warning.

Make sure you tell your medical provider about any side effects you experience. Depending on the severity of the side effects, your provider may switch you to another method of birth control.

The FDA has yet to issue a safety warning for Depo-Provera’s association with meningiomas, but the agency did require a black box warning for loss of bone mineral density.

So far, Depo-Provera’s U.S. label does not mention a risk of meningiomas. However, Canada and the EU have already taken steps to warn the public about the meningioma risk.

In September 2024, the European Medicines Agency agreed to issue direct healthcare professional communications that warned medical providers of Depo-Provera’s link to meningiomas. Canada’s Depo label includes warnings that meningiomas have been reported with long-term use of Depo-Provera.

Drugwatch has spoken to a few women who have experienced meningiomas after long-term Depo-Provera use, and they shared their stories with us.

Two of these women, Tina Thomas and T.C., have chosen to use initials to protect their privacy.

Tina Thomas

Thomas’ first meningioma symptom was hearing loss. Her meningioma treatment required doctors to remove the tumor to prevent it from getting worse. But it came back and affected her vocal cords. She had another surgery. Now, Thomas has permanent hearing loss and a raspy voice.

“That meningioma has really scarred my life,” Thomas told Drugwatch.

She didn’t realize that Depo-Provera was linked to meningioma until she saw a commercial on TV.

“You mean to tell me that they knew about this and they’re still giving these shots to women?” Thomas said. “They just did not value our lives at all.”

T.C.

T.C. cared for two young children — one with special needs — while managing a full-time job at a hospital. At the same time, she dealt with extreme fatigue and constant headaches that she didn’t know were signs of a meningioma.

She told Drugwatch that her life has become overwhelming.

“Since my meningioma diagnosis, I’ve been on medication and have to undergo regular MRIs to monitor the tumor,” T.C. said. “At first, it was every six months, but now it’s once a year. It’s a constant worry that the tumor might grow, and the appointments feel never-ending.”

According to Depo-Provera lawsuits, Pfizer and Upjohn knew or should have known for years that Depo-Provera can cause or contribute to meningiomas. Even if they knew about the risk, they failed to warn patients and medical providers.

Since at least 1983, medical and scientific communities have known about the connection between meningiomas and progesterone, and Depo-Provera is a progesterone-based contraceptive.

In studies cited in legal documents, Depo-Provera was second only to cyproterone acetate in increased meningioma risk. Cyproterone acetate had already been withdrawn from the market because of meningioma risk.

“Depo-Provera had by far the highest risk of meningioma surgeries amongst progesterone contraceptive products studied, rendering Depo-Provera more dangerous than other drugs and treatment options designed to prevent pregnancy,” according to Kristina Schmidt’s lawsuit.

Lawsuits also cite that Depo-Provera’s label has been updated at least 13 times since 2003, but defendants still haven’t been warned about meningiomas.

If you have been diagnosed with a meningioma after using Depo-Provera, Drugwatch can help connect you with an attorney to review your legal options for free. There’s never an obligation to sign up, either. The choice to pursue a lawsuit is always yours.

You may be able to file a Depo-Provera lawsuit for compensation to help pay for past and future care for your meningioma, any lost wages, loss of quality of life and other damages.

After you fill out a form on Drugwatch, we will match you with one of our experienced partners who can review your case. Our partner will contact you and ask about your Depo-Provera experience. If you choose to hire them, they don’t get paid unless they win your case.