What Is Depo-Provera?
Depo-Provera (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate) is a progestin injection that was approved for contraception by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992. The birth control injection is administered every three months and is widely prescribed due to its convenience and effectiveness. Depo-Provera is offered in a high dose (150 mg) injection or a lower dose (104 mg) injection known as Depo-SubQ Provera 104. In addition to birth control, it is sometimes used to manage medical conditions like endometriosis and abnormal uterine bleeding.
What is a Meningioma?
A meningioma is a tumor of the meninges, the tissue layers lining the brain and spine. While most meningiomas are benign, around 15% can become malignant (cancerous). Even for meningiomas that remain “benign,” any tumor growing in the brain can exert pressure on nearby brain tissue, nerves and blood vessels and can lead to serious neurological complications, including vision loss, seizures, severe migraines, dizziness, cognitive impairment, loss of balance, hearing loss and even death.
Meningiomas grow slowly, sometimes over several years without causing symptoms; however, when they affect nearby brain structures, they can lead to significant disabilities. Treatment of meningioma commonly requires surgery to remove the tumor. Surgical removal of a tumor located near the brain or central nervous system may place the patient at additional risk due to the possibility of nerve or brain tissue damage.
According to the National Cancer Institute, meningiomas are categorized into three grades (I, II, or III) according to their specific characteristics:
- Grade I meningiomas: These are the most common of these types of tumors. They are considered low-grade tumors, meaning they grow slowly.
- Grade II, or atypical meningiomas: These mid-grade tumors have a higher likelihood of recurrence after surgical removal.
- Grade III, or anaplastic meningiomas: These tumors are malignant (cancerous). They are characterized by rapid growth.
Depo-Provera Linked to Increased Brain Tumor Risk
The most alarming evidence comes from a 2024 study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), which analyzed over 18,000 women who underwent surgery for intracranial meningioma between 2009 and 2018. This comprehensive research revealed that prolonged use of Depo-Provera resulted in a 555% increased risk of developing these brain tumors compared to non-users. More specifically, the study found that users of the Depo-Provera were 5.55 times more likely to be diagnosed with meningiomas.
A 2025 study from the University of British Columbia also assessed the risk of developing meningioma.The study involving over 319,000 contraceptive users reported a 3.55-fold increased meningioma risk after more than one year of Depo-Provera use.
A large-scale case-control study published in late 2024 analyzed over 117,000 meningioma cases in the U.S. and found a 53% increased risk of cerebral meningiomas specifically linked to injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera), with risk increasing further with prolonged use beyond one year.
Depo-Provera Litigation
The case is based on women not being warned that Depo-Provera birth control injections could increase their risk of developing a meningioma brain tumor. Women across the country have multiple methods of birth control available to them in many different forms. If you had known that the Depo-Provera contraceptive injection could lead to a brain tumor, you probably would have elected to choose a different contraceptive. Depo-Provera Lawsuits claim that Pfizer failed to adequately warn patients and healthcare providers about these risks despite decades of scientific evidence linking progestin-based drugs to meningiomas.
Many Depo-Provera injury claims involve women who have used Depo-Provera for years or even decades, receiving dozens of injections before developing meningioma brain tumors and debilitating symptoms. Plaintiffs report suffering from severe and life-altering symptoms, such as severe headaches, vision loss, memory problems, and other neurological impairments caused by meningiomas. Many have undergone highly invasive brain surgeries, radiation therapy, or other complex treatments, leaving them with permanent physical and emotional scars.
Pfizer has updated Depo-Provera’s label in Europe and Canada to include information about the increased risk for meningiomas, but no such warning existed in the United States, until recently. This raises concerns about why Pfizer did not update its drug label in the U.S.
In February 2025, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) centralized the growing number of Depo-Provera lawsuits. These cases are now pending in Federal Court in the Northern District of Florida before Judge M. Casey Rodgers. Judge Rogers is presiding over the coordination of all discovery and pretrial proceedings.
As of March 2026, more than 2,000 Depo-Provera cases have been filed and consolidated in a Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) pending before Judge Rodgers. The judge has established a schedule for pilot cases, often referred to as bellwether trials. These early cases are selected to test key factual and legal issues before juries. The first bellwether trial is expected to begin in December 2026.
Regulatory Developments
On December 12, 2025, the FDA issued a letter to Pfizer that will require the drug manufacturer to change its warnings for its injectable birth control medication, Depo-Provera and Depo-SubQ Provera 104. The new label warns that cases of meningiomas (benign brain tumors) have been reported following repeated use of medroxyprogesterone acetate (the primary active ingredient in Depo Provera), primarily with long term use. The label states that patients should be monitored for signs and symptoms of meningioma, and to stop using Depo-Provera if a meningioma has been diagnosed.
Plaintiffs argue that this recent update to the drug’s label supports claims that the risk should have been disclosed earlier.
Do You Qualify for a Depo-Provera Lawsuit?
Patients and families may qualify to file a Depo-Provera lawsuit if they meet certain criteria. You may be eligible for a claim if you:
- You used Depo-Provera, Depo-SubQ or an authorized generic version for at least one year, with at least two injections
- You were diagnosed with a meningioma (brain or spinal) after using Depo-Provera or Depo-Provera-SubQ
Timing Matters. In each state, statutes of limitations set a deadline for how long you have to take legal action. It’s important to contact us as soon as possible after your diagnosis.
Contact Us Today
At LexLegal, we are currently investigating cases involving patients who developed a meningioma tumor after prolonged use of Depo-Provera. Our legal team is examining the scientific evidence, analyzing the drug manufacturer’s conduct, and working to hold Pfizer accountable for the harm their contraceptive drug may have caused.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with a meningioma brain tumor after using Depo-Provera or Depo-SubQ Provera for at least one year, please contact us today. We are passionate advocates for people who were harmed by drugs that were supposed to help them. We stand ready to assist you in pursuing fair compensation for your injuries to the fullest extent allowed under the law.
LexLegal offers free, confidential case evaluations to determine whether you qualify for a Depo-Provera lawsuit. Complete our instant case evaluation form. We’ll review your information and promptly respond about your legal options. Every Depo-Provera lawsuit we handle is taken on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no upfront costs for clients. Our firm is experienced in handling defective drug cases, and we welcome any questions you may have.
Complete our instant case evaluation today to learn whether you may be eligible to file a Depo-Provera lawsuit.
