April 20, 2025 — A wave of lawsuits is building against pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and other manufacturers of Depo-Provera, a widely used injectable birth control. The legal actions claim that long-term use of the contraceptive has been linked to meningiomas, a type of brain tumor, and that companies knowingly withheld critical safety information from patients and doctors.
Depo-Provera, which contains medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA)—a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone—has been used for decades as a birth control option and to manage certain reproductive conditions. But now, patients across the U.S. are stepping forward, alleging the shot caused them to develop brain tumors after prolonged use.
What Are the Lawsuits Alleging?
The lawsuits argue that Pfizer and associated companies knew or should have known about the increased risk of meningiomas linked to Depo-Provera, but failed to disclose this danger to the public or the medical community.
While labels in countries like Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. already include warnings about this risk, Pfizer continues to sell the product in the U.S. without such warnings, even after publicly acknowledging in 2024 a connection between long-term progestogen use and brain tumors.
One study cited in lawsuits claims that long-term Depo-Provera use increases the risk of developing a brain tumor by as much as 555%. Research published in the British Medical Journal in March 2024 also found an “excess risk of intracranial meningioma” in users of progestogen-based drugs, including MPA.
According to a report by the Post Gazette, The CDC has reported similar findings, with Depo-Provera use higher among women living in rural areas or without high school diplomas or GEDs.
The FDA issued a “black box warning” in 2004 for the contraceptive, the agency’s most serious caution, citing the potential for bone loss from prolonged use. However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and World Health Organization disagreed with the warning.
“Plaintiffs and the class are reasonably concerned that they will develop intracranial meningiomas as a result of their Depo-Provera use,” according to the lawsuit. “They should not have to wait until they actually develop meningiomas; instead, they should benefit from a medical monitoring program that will allow early detection.”
What Is a Meningioma?
A meningioma is a tumor that forms in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Though most are noncancerous, they can still cause serious symptoms such as:
- Persistent headaches
- Vision and hearing problems
- Memory loss
- Seizures
- Personality changes
Treatment options can include monitoring, surgery, and radiation.
Who’s Affected?
The lawsuits focus on women who:
- Received Depo-Provera or Depo-Provera SubQ injections (or authorized generics) for at least one year
- Were diagnosed with meningioma at least three years after starting injections
- Were 70 years old or younger at the time of diagnosis Legal Representation and Compensation
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are representing affected patients on a contingency-fee basis, meaning clients pay nothing unless their case is successful. Those who win may be eligible to receive compensation for:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Some legal experts suggest settlements in successful cases could range from $150,000 to $500,000, depending on the severity of the condition and medical complications.
A legal battle unfolded in Nevada last year over the popular birth control injection Depo-Provera, as a local woman filed a lawsuit claiming the drug caused her to develop multiple brain tumors.
Tina Stephens-Smith, the plaintiff, took legal action in Nevada’s District Court, suing Pfizer and several generic drug manufacturers. Represented by Eglet Law Group and Dimopoulos Injury Law, Stephens-Smith alleged that the companies failed to warn consumers about the serious risks associated with the long-term use of Depo-Provera.
Attorneys described the conduct of the drugmakers as “nothing short of criminal,” claiming they knowingly endangered tens of thousands of women. The lawsuit specifically argued that manufacturers neglected to disclose known links between Depo-Provera and intracranial meningiomas, a type of brain tumor.
Attorney Robert Eglet cited a 2024 study indicating that long-term use of the drug increased the risk of developing such tumors by 555%. He noted that, despite this finding being published months before the latest U.S. label update, similar warnings had already been added to Depo-Provera labels in other countries. Eglet claimed this was proof of a deliberate effort to conceal the risk from American patients and providers.
Both law firms announced they were pursuing financial and punitive damages and expected to file around 1,000 Depo-Provera-related cases by May 2025.
Is There a Class Action Lawsuit And What Should Affected Patients Do?
As of now, these cases are being handled as individual lawsuits, not as a class action. Because the injuries and health outcomes vary widely between patients, attorneys believe that individual claims are the most appropriate legal approach.
If you or a loved one received Depo-Provera injections and were later diagnosed with a meningioma, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Time is critical, as statutes of limitations vary by state, and failing to act within the legal window could bar you from seeking compensation.
You can learn more about your options by filling out a form at ClassAction.org. There’s no cost to speak to a lawyer, and no obligation to move forward after the consultation.
Background:
- Depo-Provera was approved by the FDA in 1992.
- It is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when used correctly.
- Despite known risks like bone density loss (which earned the shot a black box warning), the drug remains widely prescribed across the U.S.
However, with growing concerns about its link to brain tumors, patient advocacy groups and attorneys are calling for updated warnings—or a potential withdrawal of the drug from the market—until clearer safety guidelines are provided.
