An estimated 20 million women worldwide have taken Depo-Provera, a popular birth control injection produced by Pfizer. This contraceptive shot became available in the United States during the 1990s. Though widely prescribed, many women had had negative experiences while using the Depo shot. For one, there were the common side effects that some patients could not tolerate. In the years since, Depo-Provera has become linked to several major medical complications that may not appear until decades later in life.

A scientific study published in 2024 found that the Depo shot increased the risk of patients developing intracranial meningioma, a type of brain tumor that can affect a person’s memory, vision, motor skills, and speech. Even if patients stopped using the Depo-Provera decades earlier in life, the injections made them five times more likely to develop a meningioma of the central nervous system.

If you took Depo-Provera and developed a brain tumor, 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 case review.


 

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

Depo-Provera has uses apart from birth control. Women with endometriosis have taken the Depo shot to manage discomfort and other symptoms associated with their condition. Depo-Provera injections have also been prescribed to menopausal women as part of hormone replacement therapy.

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, which offers an additional form of protection against pregnancy. Thicker cervical mucus makes it more difficult for sperm to reach a waiting egg.

Who Was Usually Prescribed Depo-Provera in Beaumont?

In the Beaumont area, the most common patients on Depo-Provera were teenage girls and young women. These younger patients appreciated the convenience of the Depo shot, which only needed to be administered every 12 weeks to be effective. This was much easier than taking oral contraception daily and refilling those prescriptions when they ran out of the birth control pill.

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. Due to long-term health concerns and potential cancer risks, the FDA rejected approval of Depo-Provera as a form of birth control in 1967, 1974, and 1983.

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.

Researchers Note Link Between Depo-Provera Use and Brain Tumors

Two notable studies have identified a higher risk of developing meningiomas among Depo-Provera patients.

The 2024 British Medical Journal Study

In March 2024, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) published a study that brought awareness to a potential health risk associated with Depo-Provera use earlier in life. 

The BMJ analyzed the effects of different kinds of progestins by performing an analysis of numbers from the French National Health Data System. The data analysis 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.

The 2025 JAMA Neurology Study

In September 2025, JAMA Neurology published a study by the Cleveland Clinic that found Depo-Provera patients were 2.43 times more likely to develop a meningioma than subjects in the control group.

The increased risk for brain tumors was notable for Depo-Provera patients who either:

  • Took the Depo shot for at least four years, or
  • Started taking the injectable contraceptive after age 31

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.

Each year, approximately 170,000 Americans are diagnosed with an intracranial meningioma. These types of brain tumors are more common in older patients and are three times more likely to develop in women than in men.

How Serious Is an Intracranial Meningioma?

Thankfully, most intracranial meningiomas are benign (non-cancerous) and treatable. Doctors have estimated that 92% of patients will survive more than five years after they receive the initial meningioma 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 took Depo-Provera in the past and have since experienced any of these symptoms, be sure to see your doctor as soon as possible. You can undergo testing and exams to determine if you have an intracranial meningioma or are suffering from another 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: Surgery is usually recommended for developing tumors that cause significant symptoms. Complete surgical removal of the brain tumor may not be possible, however, depending on where the meningioma is located in relation to the brain and spinal cord.
  • 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 intracranial meningioma does not respond to surgery or radiation therapy, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy to target the tumor. Chemo is rarely used to treat this kind of brain tumor.

Monitoring a Meningioma When Treatment Is Not Required

It’s worth noting that an intracranial meningioma diagnosis does not mean you will immediately require invasive treatment. Again, these kinds of brain tumors develop slowly and gradually, and your initial symptoms may not initially disrupt your daily activities.

Some medical professionals take a cautious wait-and-see approach, monitoring the progression of patient symptoms as well as the growth of the tumor. Patients should undergo regular checkups and scans to track the development of the meningioma and determine when treatment is needed.

The cost of treating a brain tumor is significant, which is why many women in Beaumont who took Depo-Provera 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 impacted patients’ personal and professional lives, affecting productivity at work and interpersonal relationships 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.

In December 2025, the FDA finally added a safety warning to U.S. Depo-Provera labels about the heightened risk of brain tumors, specifically intracranial meningiomas. Prior to December 2025, brain tumors and meningiomas were not mentioned on American warning labels for the birth control shot. The addition of this language was prompted by the numerous lawsuits against Pfizer filed by American Depo patients.

European and Canadian labels for Depo-Provera also warn of the increased risk of intracranial meningioma from using the contraceptive injection.

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

Potentially, yes. You may be able to file a lawsuit against Pfizer if you took Depo-Provera for at least one year and developed an intracranial meningioma later in life. Any compensation you seek can help cover the costs of treating the brain tumor, managing symptoms, and other effects the condition has on your quality of life.

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

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

Countless Beaumont women took Depo-Provera much earlier in their lives. In the years since, they’ve likely thrown away their prescriptions. Moreover, the medical facilities where they received these prescriptions may have moved or closed down, and locating these records is not always easy.

If this describes your situation, our law firm can help. The team at Bursor & Fisher, P.A. has investigators who can track down an old Depo-Provera prescription, even from clinics that have been closed for many years.

You do not need to have the prescription yourself to qualify for the Depo-Provera lawsuit in Beaumont. You can trust our team to do the investigative work for you.

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:

  • Health care expenses related to the diagnosis and treatment of your intracranial meningioma and its symptoms
  • Loss of income and future earnings caused by your intracranial meningioma and its symptoms
  • Changes in your overall quality of life associated with the development of an intracranial meningioma

As part of your free case review, our birth control shot attorneys will discuss all of the ways your health issues have affected your daily life. We can then help you understand how your lived experience affects 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?

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 throughout Beaumont, 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 Beaumont? Contact Our Law Firm to Learn About Your Legal Options

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with a brain tumor after using Depo-Provera for at least one year, contact our birth control shot lawyers about suing Pfizer. Our intracranial meningioma attorneys are ready to discuss your health struggles and determine if you qualify for the Depo-Provera lawsuit.

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.

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