Depo-Provera is a popular and widely available birth control shot produced by Pfizer. Roughly 20 million women worldwide have used the contraceptive injection to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Despite the effectiveness and convenience of the Depo shot, not all women have had positive experiences with this form of birth control. Some Depo-Provera patients were unable to tolerate the side effects of the drug, and others developed much more serious medical problems later in their lives.

In 2024, a scientific study raised major concerns over the link between Depo-Provera and the risk of intracranial meningioma, a type of brain tumor that can cause problems with memory, motor function, speech, and vision. Even if a patient stopped taking Depo-Provera decades ago, their use of the birth control shot still made them five times more likely to be diagnosed with a meningioma of the central nervous system.

If you took Depo-Provera and developed a brain tumor, our attorneys serving Arkansas can help you file a lawsuit against Pfizer. The birth control shot lawyers at Bursor & Fisher, P.A. can discuss your eligibility for legal compensation during a free case evaluation.


 

What Is Depo-Provera?

Depo-Provera is the brand name for medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). It is a contraceptive injection that is taken every three months. Regular Depo injections significantly decrease the chances of pregnancy. On average, the birth control shot is 96% effective.

Women who were prescribed this injectable contraceptive typically took one of these shots:

  • Depo-Provera
  • Depo-subQ Provera 104

In addition to its use as a birth control injection, Depo-Provera is also prescribed to women with endometriosis to manage endometriosis-related pain and other symptoms of the condition. Depo-Provera has also been prescribed as part of hormone therapy for women during menopause.

The Development of Depo-Provera

Medroxyprogesterone acetate was discovered in 1956 by Syntex and the Upjohn Company, the latter of which has since been acquired by Pfizer. It was originally intended to treat menstrual problems and recurrent pregnancy loss.

Upjohn introduced MPA to the U.S. under the brand name Provera in 1959. Upjohn introduced a different formulation in 1960 known as depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), intended to treat kidney and endometrial cancers; it was released under the brand name Depo-Provera.

How Does Depo-Provera Work?

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate contains progestin, the synthetic form of the naturally occurring reproductive hormone called progesterone. Progestins are sometimes referred to as progestogens.

Progestin prevents women from ovulating (releasing an egg from the ovaries). With no egg present to be fertilized, it is not possible to become pregnant.

In addition to preventing ovulation, progestin also thickens a woman’s cervical mucus, offering additional protection against pregnancy. Thicker cervical mucus makes it more difficult for sperm to reach a waiting egg.

Who Was Usually Prescribed Depo-Provera in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, Depo-Provera was usually prescribed to teenage girls and young women. Younger patients appreciated the simplicity and convenience of the birth control shot, which only required a single injection every 12 weeks. By comparison, birth control pills usually need to be taken every day, and prescriptions for oral contraceptives need to be refilled regularly.

A study from 2005 estimated that 10% of girls/women in the United States who were 15 to 19 years old had used Depo-Provera for contraception.

Is Depo-Provera an FDA-Approved Form of Birth Control?

Yes, but gaining FDA approval as a contraceptive took multiple attempts spanning four decades.

The FDA rejected approval of Depo-Provera for contraceptive use in 1967, 1974, and 1983 due to long-term health concerns and potential cancer risks.

Depo-Provera eventually received FDA approval for contraceptive use in the United States in 1992. By that time, Depo-Provera was already being used as a form of birth control in over 90 other countries around the world.

Common Side Effects of Depo-Provera

The most common side effects experienced by Depo-Provera patients include:

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

In addition to the above side effects, Depo-Provera has been linked to loss of bone density, particularly in teenagers and young women who are on the birth control shot.

Study Notices Link Between Depo-Provera Use and Brain Tumors

A March 2024 study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) raised major concerns about the safety of Depo-Provera, particularly among patients who took the birth control shot earlier in life.

The study published in the BMJ 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 likelihood 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?

Meningiomas are the most common type of brain tumor. Intracranial meningiomas develop in your meninges, the protective membranes of tissue that cover the spinal cord and the brain.

Meningiomas are three times more common in women than in men. They are also more common in older patients. Approximately 170,000 people are diagnosed with meningiomas in the United States every year.

How Serious Is an Intracranial Meningioma?

Thankfully, the majority of intracranial meningiomas are benign (non-cancerous), and patients have multiple options for effective treatment. Doctors estimate that around 92% of meningioma patients will survive their condition more than five years after they receive the initial diagnosis.

Signs and Symptoms of Intracranial Meningiomas

The most common signs and symptoms of intracranial meningiomas include:

  • 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 were on Depo-Provera at any time in the past and have experienced the symptoms listed above, be sure to contact your doctor as soon as possible. They can run tests and scans to determine if you have an intracranial meningioma or are suffering from a different type of health issue.

What Treatment Will I Need If I Get a Brain Tumor from the Depo Shot?

If you develop an intracranial meningioma and it is causing serious health problems, the most common treatment options are as follows:

  • Surgical Removal of the Intracranial Meningioma: For growing tumors that cause significant symptoms, surgical removal is often recommended. Complete removal of the brain tumor may not be possible, however, depending on where the meningioma is located in relation to the spinal cord and the structures of the brain.
  • Radiation Therapy for Intracranial Meningioma: When the intracranial meningioma cannot be removed surgically or can only be partially removed, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy to destroy the cells of the brain tumor.
  • Chemotherapy for Intracranial Meningioma: If the brain tumor does not respond to surgery or radiation therapy, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy to target the intracranial meningioma. Chemo is rarely used to treat this kind of brain tumor.

Monitoring a Meningioma When Treatment Is Not Required

Because meningiomas can take time to develop, not all of these brain tumors will require immediate treatment. Numerous doctors take a wait-and-see approach based on the size of the tumor and the symptoms their patient is experiencing. Regular checkups and testing will keep tabs on the development of the meningioma and the health of the patient. This allows doctors to determine when treatment should be performed and what type of treatment to recommend.

The cost of treating a brain tumor is significant, which is why many women who took Depo-Provera in Arkansas have questions about suing Pfizer and seeking legal compensation.

Long-Term Health Problems Associated with Intracranial Meningiomas

While intracranial meningioma patients have a high survival rate, the effects of their brain tumor can have a major impact on their quality of life even after undergoing successful treatment.

Studies of meningioma patients have found continued problems with headaches and vision. In addition, researchers discovered that patients continued to struggle with weakened extremities, fatigue, and memory function.

The long-term effects of the brain tumor also had effects on patients’ personal and professional lives, affecting productivity at work and interpersonal interactions while contributing to feelings of social isolation, depression, and anxiety.

Are Brain Tumors Listed on the Warning Label for Depo-Provera?

Up until recently, Pfizer never warned doctors or patients about the potential risk of developing brain tumors from the use of Depo-Provera.

European warning labels for Depo-Provera now cite the increased risk of intracranial meningioma from using the contraceptive injection.

However, as of this writing, Pfizer has yet to update the U.S. warning label for Depo-Provera to include mention of the heightened risk of brain tumors.

Can I File a Lawsuit for Brain Tumors Caused by Depo-Provera Use?

Yes, you may be able to sue Pfizer if you took Depo-Provera for at least a year and developed a brain tumor later in life. Any compensation you seek can help cover the costs of treating an intracranial meningioma and the brain tumor’s other impacts on your daily life.

Bursor & Fisher, P.A. is here to be an advocate for Arkansas women on Depo-Provera who want to hold Pfizer legally accountable for brain tumors caused by the birth control shot.

Eligibility to File a Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Lawsuit in Arkansas

You may qualify for a birth control shot brain tumor lawsuit if:

  • You took one of these medications for at least a year: Depo-Provera or Depo-subQ Provera 104
  • You have medical records verifying that you were on one of the specified Pfizer birth control shots
  • You were diagnosed with an intracranial meningioma or brain tumor after taking the specified MPA or DMPA shot
  • You’ve undergone or are undergoing treatment for brain tumors or intracranial meningiomas

Certain medical conditions, treatments, or other circumstances may prevent you from taking legal action. It’s best to discuss your birth control shot use and subsequent brain tumor with our Depo-Provera lawsuit lawyers serving Arkansas as soon as possible.

How Much Can I Win in a Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Lawsuit?

This depends on a variety of factors that are unique to your brain tumor diagnosis and how your life has been affected. Compensation in Depo shot cases will typically cover:

  • 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 case review, our birth control shot attorneys will go over your difficulties and the lasting hardships you’ve experienced. We can then let you know what this could mean for the value of your Depo-Provera claim.

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 Lawyer in Arkansas?

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

In addition to offering free consultations to Depo-Provera patients throughout Arkansas, 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 seek justice for Depo-Provera patients who’ve developed brain tumors. We’ll amplify your voice and fight for you.

Did You Take Depo-Provera in Arkansas? Contact Our Law Firm to Learn About Your Legal Options

If you or someone you care about has developed a brain tumor after using Depo-Provera for at least a year, contact our birth control shot lawyers about filing a legal claim against Pfizer. Our Arkansas intracranial meningioma attorneys are ready to discuss your health struggles and determine if you are eligible to file a Depo-Provera lawsuit.

Depo-Provera Lawsuit Lawyer