Symptoms of a Meningioma

You may have seen reports about an increased risk of developing an intracranial meningioma (a type of brain tumor) if you took Depo-Provera (an injectable form of contraception). Many women who used the Depo shot in the past have expressed concerns about their health as they’ve gotten older. Yet there are many questions about meningiomas and their causes, and why Depo-Provera patients should be on alert. The team at Bursor & Fisher, P.A. is here to offer some answers.

Let’s consider what an intracranial meningioma is, how it can affect your quality of life, and what symptoms to watch for. We’ll then turn our attention to Depo-Provera, how it works, and what the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found about the birth control shot’s link to meningiomas. We’ll conclude by discussing what this research could mean for Depo-Provera patients who want to take legal action against Pfizer, the makers of the drug.

If you were on Depo-Provera and developed an intracranial meningioma, our attorneys 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 review.

 

What Is an Intracranial Meningioma?

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. Intracranial meningiomas are also referred to as meningeal tumors.

There are three different grades of intracranial meningiomas:

• Grade I (Typical): The most common kind of meningioma, these are benign tumors that develop slowly.
• Grade II (Atypical): A less common kind of meningioma, these types of non-cancerous tumors develop much faster.
• Grade III (Anaplastic): The rarest kind of meningioma, these types of malignant tumors grow and spread rapidly.

Thankfully, most intracranial meningiomas are of the Grade I variety, meaning that they are non-cancerous and treatable. An estimated 92% of meningioma patients will survive their condition for more than five years after their initial diagnosis.

How Common Are Intracranial Meningiomas?

Meningiomas are the most common type of brain tumor. An estimated 170,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with meningiomas each year. 

That said, intracranial meningiomas tend to be more common in some groups than others. Women are two to three times more likely to develop intracranial meningiomas than men. While meningiomas can occur in people of any age, they are more likely in older individuals.

The Common Signs of Intracranial Meningioma

Warning signs of a meningioma occur when the tumor presses against the brain itself or any nearby blood vessels or nerves. The most common signs and symptoms of intracranial meningioma 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 notice any combination of the above symptoms, be sure to speak with your doctor as soon as possible. You can discuss seeing a neurologist to undergo a full neurological exam and imaging tests. Your neurologist may also perform a biopsy to confirm that you have an intracranial meningioma instead of another type of tumor.

What Causes Intracranial Meningiomas?

The exact causes of intracranial meningiomas are still not known. Medical experts believe that something alters the cells in the meninges, causing them to multiply uncontrollably.

Risk Factors for Intracranial Meningiomas

While one direct cause hasn’t been discovered, there are some significant risk factors associated with meningiomas later in life:

• Radiation Exposure: Past radiation exposure or any radiation therapy involving the head could increase your risk for intracranial meningioma.
• Female Hormones: Since meningiomas are more common in women than men, there is some speculation that female hormones may be a risk factor. These risks are possibly increased when women undergo hormone therapy or take birth control.
• 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 spine and skull.
• Obesity: Some research has suggested that people who are obese are more likely to develop meningiomas, though it’s not clear why that is the case.

How Intracranial Meningiomas Are Treated

There are a few different options to remove an intracranial meningioma. The most common treatments include:

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

Conservative Approaches to Care

If the tumor is not causing major symptoms that affect your ability to function, immediate treatment of the intracranial meningioma may not be necessary. In these situations, doctors may opt for a more conservative, wait-and-see approach to care.

When meningioma symptoms are mild, patients will undergo regular checkups and screenings to monitor the growth of their brain tumor. Doctors can then proceed with treatment when symptoms worsen or the tumor threatens nearby structures of the brain or spine.

What Is Depo-Provera and How Does It Work?

Now that we’ve covered the basics of intracranial meningiomas, let’s look at Depo-Provera.

Also known as the birth control shot, Depo-Provera is a hormonal injection that contains medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), a type of progestin. Progestin prevents ovulation, which is the release of an egg from the ovaries. With no egg present to be fertilized, a woman cannot become pregnant.

In addition to stopping ovulation, progestin also increases the thickness of a woman’s cervical mucus. Thicker cervical mucus makes it more difficult for sperm to access a waiting egg, creating an additional layer of protection against pregnancy.

Why Is Depo-Provera Popular?

The birth control shot is a much more convenient form of contraception compared to the birth control pill. Women only needed to get a Depo-Provera injection once every three months (12 weeks), and the shot was 96% effective. By comparison, women need to take the birth control pill daily and refill prescriptions whenever they run out.

It’s no wonder that the Depo shot was often used by teenagers and women in their early twenties. In fact, an estimated 20 million women around the world have used Depo-Provera. Women were typically given one of these drugs:

• Depo-Provera
• Depo-subQ Provera 104

Not All Women Had Positive Experiences with the Depo Shot

It’s worth noting that many women had negative experiences while taking Depo-Provera due to the symptoms of the drug. These side effects included headaches, lack of period, mood swings, depression, anxiety, and loss of bone density.

For many years, these side effects did not include any risk of brain tumors, however. In fact, Pfizer never informed doctors or patients about the potential risk of developing brain tumors from the use of the birth control shot in the past.

That is changing now because of the findings in a study published by the British Medical Journal.

Does Depo-Provera Cause Intracranial Meningioma?

While research has yet to establish a direct causal link between Depo-Provera and intracranial meningiomas, a March 2024 study in the British Medical Journal noted a heightened likelihood of developing these tumors among women who took Depo-Provera.

What the BMJ Study Reveals About Depo and Intracranial Meningioma

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 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.

Are Intracranial Meningiomas Listed on the Warning Label for Depo-Provera?

In the United States, the risk of intracranial meningiomas is still not mentioned on Depo-Provera warning labels.

However, warning labels for Depo-Provera in Europe and Canada do mention the increased risk for intracranial meningioma associated with the use of the birth control shot.

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

Potentially, yes. You may be able to sue Pfizer if you were prescribed the birth control shot and developed an intracranial meningioma later in life. The compensation in your case can help cover your medical care costs as well as changes in your overall quality of life.

Bursor & Fisher, P.A. can advocate for women who want to hold Pfizer legally accountable for brain tumors caused by Depo-Provera.

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

It depends on your meningioma diagnosis and the ways the condition has affected your life. Any compensation sought in a Depo-Provera lawsuit will help address:

• 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

Durin your free case evaluation, our birth control shot lawyers will review how your diagnosis has affected your life. Our attorneys will then let you know what your experience could mean for the value of your legal claim.

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

Many women took Depo-Provera during their teens and early twenties. For most patients, prescriptions are thrown away after they’ve been filled and are rarely copied or retained. Obtaining prescription records can be difficult, especially with old clinics or medical facilities that have since closed.

If this describes your situation, Bursor & Fisher, P.A. can offer help. Our law firm has investigators who can track down your old Depo-Provera prescription. This includes prescriptions from decades ago and from medical facilities that have been closed for many 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 so you can focus on getting the treatment you need.

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 lawyers are here to seek justice for Depo-Provera patients who had no idea they could develop brain tumors from taking the birth control shot. We’ll amplify your voice and fight for you.

Contact Our Law Firm for More Info on Intracranial Meningioma Lawsuits

If you’ve developed an intracranial meningioma after taking Depo-Provera, our attorneys can help you seek compensation from Pfizer. Our lawyers will be your advocates so your voice can be heard. To request a free case evaluation, contact Bursor & Fisher P.A. 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.