Long-Term Effects of Depo Birth Control

Depo-Provera was approved by the FDA in 1992. By that time, the birth control shot was already being used in over 90 other countries across the globe. While many patients were allured by the convenience and effectiveness of the Depo shot, there were numerous concerns about the side effects of the drug and potential long-term complications.

Let’s take a look at Depo-Provera and its potential long-term effects on people’s health. We’ll then focus a fair amount on a 2024 study that found a possible link between Depo-Provera and a heightened risk of intracranial meningioma, a type of tumor that can affect the central nervous system.

If you were on Depo-Provera and developed an intracranial meningioma, our lawyers can help you file a lawsuit against Pfizer. The birth control shot attorneys at Bursor & Fisher, P.A. can discuss your eligibility for legal compensation during a free consultation.

 

About Depo-Provera

Depo-Provera is the brand name for medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), an injectable type of contraception. It’s available in two forms:

• Depo-Provera
• Depo-subQ Provera 104

Depo-Provera is not just used as a contraceptive. The Depo shot is also prescribed to manage pain and other symptoms for women with endometriosis, and as part of hormone therapy for women during menopause.

How Depo-Provera Works

Depo-Provera contains progestin (also known as progestogen), which is the synthetic form of the natural reproductive hormone progesterone. Progestin prevents ovulation, which is when the ovaries release an egg. With no egg to be fertilized, a woman cannot get pregnant.

Depo-Provera does more than prevent ovulation, however.

Progestin also increases the thickness of a woman’s cervical mucus, which creates another layer of protection against pregnancy. Thicker cervical mucus makes it more difficult for sperm to reach a waiting egg.

Why Depo-Provera Became Popular

The birth control shot is effective and convenient, especially compared to the birth control pill.

Depo shot only needs to be administered once every three months (12 weeks). The pill needs to be taken every day, and patients need to refill their prescriptions whenever they run out. On average, Depo-Provera is 96% effective at preventing pregnancy.

This is why the Depo shot was so popular among teenage girls and women in their twenties. It’s estimated that 20 million women worldwide have used the birth control shot.

The Most Common Side Effects of Depo-Provera

Any medication that changes hormone levels can have lasting side effects. Here are some of the most common side effects for Depo-Provera patients.

Effects on a Woman’s Cycle

The most common long-term side effect of Depo-Provera is a change in a woman’s normal cycle. This included:

• More days of bleeding
• Spotting between periods
• Lack of periods

While a complete lack of periods sounds alarming, this is considered normal. Roughly half of women on the Depo shot stop having their period while using the contraceptive injection.

If a woman stops taking Depo-Provera, it can take several months for her cycle to return to normal. For women on the Depo shot who want to get pregnant, it can take up to 10 months off the drug before they’re able to conceive.

Other Common Side Effects of Depo-Provera

Other common symptoms of Depo-Provera include:

• Headaches
• Weight gain
• Bloating
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Acne
• Loss of interest in sex

Because of negative experiences with the side effects, many women have decided to stop taking Depo-Provera. It can take a few months off the drug for women to recover from their side effects.

Lasting Effects of Depo-Provera Use

Many patients on the Depo shot experienced these long-term health concerns.

Loss of Bone Density

Research suggests that using Depo-Provera can cause bone loss and reduced bone density. The increased risk of osteoporosis meant a danger of suffering major bone fractures, including damage to the hip.

The risk of bone loss is typically higher in teenage girls and women in their early twenties who are on the birth control shot. Thankfully, bone density can return to normal after patients stop using Depo-Provera.

Changes in Mood and Mental Health

Many women on the birth control shot complained about increased depression, anxiety, low moods, and suicidal ideation while they were on the contraceptive. Much of this was likely caused by changes in hormone levels.

Patients who experienced significant problems with their mood while on Depo-Provera usually stopped taking the drug. Over time, their mood and mental health would gradually improve.

The Risk of Intracranial Meningiomas from Depo-Provera

The latest potential long-term effect of Depo-Provera is developing an intracranial meningioma later in life. The possible connection between meningiomas and the birth control shot was noted in a study published by the British Medical Journal in March 2024.

Even if a patient stopped using the birth control shot decades earlier, she was still five times more likely to develop a tumor that affects the central nervous system.

The Study in the British Medical Journal (BMJ)

The BMJ study used information from the French National Health Data System to analyze different kinds of progestins. The data revealed that the prolonged use of promegestone, medrogestone, and medroxyprogesterone acetate increased the chances of developing intracranial meningiomas.

According to the BMJ, medroxyprogesterone acetate (the primary progestin in Depo-Provera) made patients 555% more likely to develop intracranial meningiomas.

What Are Intracranial Meningiomas?

Also known as meningial tumors, an intracranial meningioma is a type of tumor that affects the meninges, which is the protective membrane of tissue that surrounds the spinal cord and brain.

Are Intracranial Meningiomas Common?

Yes, relatively speaking. Intracranial meningiomas are the most common type of brain tumor, with an estimated 170,000 diagnoses in the United States every year.

While intracranial meningiomas tend to be more common in older people, these tumors can develop in patients of any age. Most meningiomas develop slowly, but rarer forms of meningiomas can develop rapidly.

Risk Factors for Intracranial Meningiomas

Some key risk factors for intracranial meningiomas include:

• Female Hormones: Meningiomas are two to three times more common in women than in men. There is some speculation that female hormones may be a risk factor. These risks may be increased when women undergo hormone therapy or use birth control.
• Radiation Exposure: Prior radiation exposure or any radiation therapy involving the head could increase your chances of developing an intracranial meningioma.
• Genetics/Family History: Patients with a family history of meningiomas are more at risk. The same is true of people with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), a rare condition that causes tumors to form on nerves, especially nerves in the skull and spine.
• Obesity: Some research suggests that people who are obese are more likely to develop intracranial meningiomas, though it’s not clear why that is the case.

Signs and Symptoms of Intracranial Meningiomas

Some of the most common warning signs of intracranial meningiomas are as follows:

• Headaches
• Blurry vision
• Double vision
• Hearing loss
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Difficulty speaking
• Difficulty swallowing
• Weakness in the arms or legs
• Paralysis in certain parts of the body
• Loss of smell
• Memory loss
• Seizures

If you notice any combination of the above symptoms, be sure to speak with your doctor as soon as possible.

Do Depo-Provera Warning Labels Mention Intracranial Meningiomas?

At the moment, there is no mention of intracranial meningiomas on American warning labels for Depo-Provera. Until recently, Pfizer never informed doctors or patients about the potential risk of developing tumors from normal use of the injectable contraceptive.

By contrast, European and Canadian warning labels for Depo-Provera do mention the increased potential for intracranial meningiomas.

Treatment Options for Intracranial Meningiomas

Here’s what to expect when getting tested for an intracranial meningioma and undergoing treatment.

Exams and Testing

Diagnosing a meningioma will require an examination by a neurologist. After reviewing your symptoms and how you’re feeling, the neurologist will also conduct a CT scan or MRI scan. In some cases, a neurologist may also perform a biopsy just ot confirm that a patient has a meningioma and not some other form of brain tumor.

Options to Remove a Meningioma

There are three options for removing a meningioma depending on its size and location.

• Surgery: Surgical removal is the most common treatment for an intracranial meningioma when the tumor causes major symptoms.
• Radiation Therapy: If the tumor cannot be completely removed through surgery, doctors may recommend radiation therapy to target the remaining cells.
• Chemotherapy: Though rarely used to treat intracranial meningiomas, chemotherapy can be used when surgery and radiation are ineffective.

Monitoring When Symptoms Are Mild

If you have an intracranial meningioma but your symptoms are mild, your doctor or neurologist may take a conservative approach to treatment. This will involve regular checkups and screenings to note the development of the tumor. Invasive treatment will only be performed when your symptoms start affecting your quality of life or threaten nearby structures of the brain and spine.

Can I File a Lawsuit for Meningiomas Caused by the Depo Shot?

Yes, you may be able to sue Pfizer if you took Depo-Provera earlier in life and eventually got diagnosed with an intracranial meningioma. The compensation from your legal claim can help cover your medical expenses as well as any changes in your quality of life caused by the tumor.

The Depo-Provera attorneys at Bursor & Fisher, P.A. are here to advocate for women harmed by taking this injectable contraceptive. We can help you hold Pfizer legally accountable for major changes to your life and livelihood.

How Much Can I Win in a Birth Control Shot Lawsuit?

The amount you could receive in Depo shot litigation varies based on your meningioma diagnosis and the ways your life has been affected. Our lawyers will consider:

• Medical expenses related to the diagnosis and treatment of your intracranial meningioma
• Loss of income and future earnings caused by your intracranial meningioma
• Changes in your quality of life associated with the development of intracranial meningiomas

As part of your free consultation, our birth control shot attorneys will review how your life has been changed by an intracranial meningioma diagnosis. Our team can then help you understand how your experiences may affect the value of your birth control shot claim.

If You Do Not Have Your Old Depo-Provera Prescription, We Can Find It for You

Many women took Depo-Provera much earlier in their lives. For most patients, prescriptions are discarded after they’ve been filled and are rarely copied or retained. Locating old prescription records can be difficult, especially when many clinics or medical facilities that provided the injection have since closed.

If this describes your situation, Bursor & Fisher, P.A. is here to help. Our law firm has investigators who can track down an old Depo-Provera prescription. This includes prescriptions from decades ago and from medical centers that have been closed for years.

You do not need to have the prescription yourself to qualify for Depo-Provera litigation. You can trust our team to do the in-depth investigative work for you while you focus on getting treatment for your meningioma.

Why Choose Bursor & Fisher, P.A. for Your Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Lawsuit

Bursor & Fisher, P.A. is a nationwide leader in complex, high-stakes litigation. Our law firm has offices located in Miami, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 2008, our lawyers have represented more than 160 million people in legal actions—that’s roughly 1 in every 2 Americans.

Bursor & Fisher, P.A. has secured numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in complex lawsuits throughout the country. This includes a $267 million jury verdict against a debt collector who was found to have violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Depo-Provera Attorney?

There is no upfront cost to hiring an attorney with Bursor & Fisher, P.A.

In addition to offering free claim evaluations to Depo-Provera patients, Bursor & Fisher, P.A. operates on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t pay our attorneys anything unless and until we can recover money for you.

Our attorneys are here to advocate for women who’ve been diagnosed with brain tumors after taking Depo-Provera. Your voice matters, and our team will help amplify your story to make sure it’s heard.

Contact Our Law Firm If You Developed a Meningioma from Depo-Provera Use

If you took Depo-Provera and developed a brain tumor later in life, our birth control shot lawyers can help you seek compensation from Pfizer. To receive more information and a free consultation, contact our law firm today.

Bursor & Fisher, P.A. is not a medical provider. The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.