Depo-Provera Lawsuit: W&L Pursuing Cases of Contraceptive and Endometriosis Drugs Causing Brain and Spinal Tumors

UPDATE 10-1-2024: Weitz & Luxenberg has filed the first federal lawsuit in the U.S. demanding compensation from Pfizer on behalf of women who used Depo-Provera and were diagnosed with meningioma tumors surrounding their brain and spinal cord. Hear what our attorneys have to say about this litigation.

Weitz & Luxenberg is pursuing cases of women who developed brain and spinal tumors or lesions — called meningiomas — after receiving the birth control injection Depo-Provera or depo-subQ provera 104, which is also used to treat endometriosis.

Meningiomas are typically benign tumors that develop in the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Since they can grow and put pressure on adjacent brain tissue and structures, they often require surgical or radiation treatment with the potential to cause brain injury.

Symptoms of meningioma include seizures, double or blurry vision, headaches that are worse in the morning, hearing loss or ringing in the ears, memory loss, aphasia, loss of smell, weakness in the arms or legs and trouble speaking. ⁽¹⁾

Pfizer Did Not Warn Women of Brain Tumor Risk

The legal case is based on women not being warned that Depo-Provera contraceptive injections could increase their risk of developing a meningioma tumor. The tumors vary in size and may be “benign“ or in a minority of cases, cancerous. Meningiomas are dangerous, even when benign, as they grow and intrude on brain tissue and structures.

Surgical removal is the primary treatment. Surgical treatment can lead to seizure disorders requiring the use of antiepileptic medication, brain injury, permanent cognitive impairment, depression, and potentially even death.

A Depo-Provera lawsuit is based on the fact that Pfizer provided no warning to patients of this possibly life-threatening brain tumor. However, the company knew about the risks for some time. ⁽²⁾

Pfizer indicated it plans to change the label at some point. The proposed change will presumably include warnings about the risk of developing meningiomas. ⁽³⁾

Depo-Provera Is a Birth Control Injection

The Depo-Provera contraceptive has been used around the world for nearly 60 years. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Depo-Provera for use in the U.S. back in October 1992.

Approximately one to two million women in the United States use Depo-Provera annually. Roughly 20% of all women in America have used Depo-Provera at some point in their lifetime.

The dose used in the United States is 150 mg every three months, by injection into your muscle (intramuscular) at your buttock or upper arm. ⁽⁴⁾

Depo-SubQ Provera 104 Is for Birth Control and to Treat Endometriosis

Depo-subQ provera 104 is a progestin that is indicated in females of reproductive age for prevention of pregnancy and management of endometriosis-associated pain. Depo-subQ is administered as a shot just under the skin (subcutaneous) on your thigh or belly.

According to the Mayo Clinic, endometriosis is often a painful condition. Tissue “similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus.” Endometriosis typically affects your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and tissue lining your pelvis. Its main symptom is pelvic pain. ⁽⁵⁾

Progestogen Medications and Brain Tumors

Studies have indicated some high-dose progestogen medications — cyproterone acetate, nomegestrol acetate, and chlormadinone acetate — are linked to an increased risk of a woman developing meningioma. ^{(6) (7) (8)}

A large French study was published in March of 2024 in the British Medical Journal. In it, women who used medrogestone — a medication used outside of the United States for the treatment of menstrual cycle disorders and luteal insufficiency (e.g., dysmenorrhea, functional menorrhagia or fibroid related menorrhagia, premenstrual syndrome, and irregular cycles), endometriosis, mastodynia, and hormone replacement therapy for menopause — had a 3.49-fold increased risk of meningiomas. ⁽⁹⁾

Of concern to reproductive aged women, users of Depo-Provera, chemically known as medroxyprogesterone acetate, ⁽¹⁰⁾ were found to have the highest increased risk of meningiomas — 5.55-fold — in that same significant study. ⁽¹¹⁾

Medrogestone and promegestone are not sold in the United States. However, roughly one in five sexually active U.S. women say they have used a Depo-Provera injectable at some point. ⁽¹²⁾ Fortunately, the same study highlighting the increased risk of meningioma amongst Depo Provera users also showed that women taking commonly used birth control pills are not at increased risk of meningioma. ⁽¹³⁾

Depo-Provera Contraceptive Lawsuits

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.

“Manufacturers of birth control medications must be held accountable for distributing dangerous products. Labels should clearly warn women of the risks. This is especially true if one of the severe medical complications includes brain and spinal tumors of any kind,” says W&L partner Ellen Relkin, practice group chair of our firm’s Drug and Medical Device Litigation practice group.

Meningiomas can be dangerous to your health. If you developed this type of brain tumor after receiving at least two injections of Depo-Provera, you may be eligible for compensation for any harm suffered.

W&L Helping Women Diagnosed with Meningiomas from Using Depo-Provera

Weitz & Luxenberg is encouraging anyone 70-years-old and younger who was diagnosed with a meningioma after using Depo-Provera or Depo-subQ provera 104 to contact us by using the online form on this page or by calling (833) 977-3437 for a free consultation.

W&L has been awarded more than $19 billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients harmed by the negligent actions of large corporations. We have represented hundreds of women for decades stemming from other hormonal birth control and reproductive tract products that caused harm including DES, the Ortho Evra patch, Yaz and Yasmin. Our experienced defective drugs attorneys can help you explore your legal options.