Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Lawsuit

Experienced Michigan Personal Injury Lawyers Assist Former Depo-Provera Users Who Develop Brain Tumors

For years, Depo-Provera has been a popular form of birth control. A recently published medical study has sparked concern for millions of patients who used the contraceptive drug. The large-scale study reveals the strongest links to date between Depo-Provera use and an increased risk of developing meningioma, a type of brain tumor.

The risk is highest in patients who used Depo-Provera for more than a year. If you used Depo-Provera and are now battling a brain tumor, talk to an experienced Michigan personal injury lawyer today. The team at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. can help.

Basic Facts About Depo-Provera and Meningioma

Depo-Provera is an injectable birth control medication. It may also be prescribed to treat certain symptoms of PMS and related conditions. The drug contains depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), a synthetic form of the hormone progestin. It prevents ovulation, thins the uterine lining, and thickens cervical mucus, all of which reduce the likelihood of pregnancy. DMPA is sold in the United States under the brand name Depo-Provera and manufactured by Pfizer, Inc.

After its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Depo-Provera became a popular birth control choice because it is low-maintenance and minimally invasive. Patients receive a shot every three months and don’t have to worry about managing a daily pill or device. The drug is also relatively low-cost for many users.

Meningioma is the most common type of brain tumor, accounting for approximately 30 percent of all diagnosed brain tumors. A meningioma is so named because it originates in the meninges—the outer layers of tissue between the skull and the brain. The meninges cover the brain, forming a protective layer between the brain and the skull.

The middle layer of the meninges, called the arachnoid, is the starting place for meningioma brain tumors. These tumors grow slowly and may not produce symptoms for many years. Some meningiomas are benign, while others may develop into cancer.

There are several types of meningioma, named for where they start in the brain. For example:

• Convexity meningiomas cover the surface of the brain directly under the skull. These tumors account for about 20 percent of all diagnosed meningioma.
• Sphenoid wing meningiomas form behind the eyes. About 20 percent of diagnosed meningioma cases are spheroid wing meningioma.
• Olfactory groove meningiomas develop along the nerves that connect the brain and the nose. These tumors are often diagnosed after patients report losing their sense of smell. Olfactory groove meningioma accounts for about 10 percent of all diagnosed meningioma cases.
• Posterior fossa/petrous meningiomas form on the underside of the brain. As the tumor grows, it can affect facial nerves and the sense of hearing. If the tumor presses on the trigeminal nerve, it can cause trigeminal neuralgia, an intensely painful condition. These tumors account for approximately 10 percent of diagnosed meningiomas.

Other types of meningioma can also occur. Any kind of meningioma can also be a “recurrent meningioma,” meaning the tumor returns after removal. Recurrent meningioma can be similar to the original tumor, or it may be a more aggressive or even cancerous form.

The Connection Between Depo-Provera and Meningioma

Before 2024, a handful of studies indicated a link between synthetic birth control hormones, including DMPA, and meningioma. However, a study published in BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) in 2024 revealed a much clearer connection.

The study followed 18,061 women who had intracranial surgery for meningioma between 2009 and 2018 who had used birth control with synthetic hormones. Each patient was matched with five control patients who shared their birth date and area of residence.

The study found an “excess risk” of meningioma for patients who used any of three different types of hormone-based medications: medrogesterone, DMPA, and promegestone. For all three medications, the risk was highest for patients who had used them for longer than one year. The risk was highest for DMPA patients—these patients developed meningioma at five times the rate of their matched control group.

Meningioma brain tumors in the study’s patients were most commonly found at the base of the skull; these cases accounted for 55.6 percent of all diagnosed meningiomas. Approximately 92 percent of the cases were benign, but nearly 2 percent were classified as malignant, and another 5.8 percent were deemed “atypical.”

Even among patients with benign tumors, death rates were more than twice as high as among control patients. Approximately 2.8 percent of patients with tumors linked to synthetic progesterone use died within two years, compared to 1.2 percent of patients in the control group. Mortality rates were highest among patients with malignant tumors; in this group, one in eight patients died within two years, and one in five died within five years.

The link between progesterone and intracranial meningioma is “biologically plausible,” according to the study authors. Progesterone receptors in the brain are involved in over 60 percent of all meningiomas. Previous studies have also found that the volume of meningioma tumors often increases during pregnancy when more progesterone is present in the body, and decreases after pregnancy when progesterone levels drop.

Symptoms of Meningioma or Other Brain Tumors

Symptoms of meningioma vary depending on the size of the tumor, its location within the skull, and how the tumor affects nerves and other surrounding structures. Symptoms of a meningioma or other brain tumor may include:

• Headaches.
• Seizures.
• Dizziness or lightheadedness.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Problems with vision, hearing, or smell.
• Memory loss or memory problems.
• Difficulty speaking.
• Weakness in the arms or legs.

These symptoms appear in a wide range of medical conditions, so it’s crucial to see a physician if you experience any of them. Early diagnosis can help ensure you have the best possible outcome.

Meningiomas are slow-growing, so patients may have no symptoms for many years. In some cases, doctors discover a meningioma because the patient needs an MRI or CT for an unrelated condition, such as a concussion or a facial injury. While reviewing the MRI, doctors may spot a meningioma.

Surgery to remove a meningioma can be challenging. These tumors can be difficult to remove due to their position on the brain, their size, or their involvement with nerves and other structures. All surgeries have risks, including the risk that the tumor will return.

Lawsuits for Meningioma and Brain Tumor Cases

Drug manufacturers have a duty to warn consumers or medical providers about the risks associated with their products. As cases regarding Depo-Provera and brain tumors enter the court system, evidence will show how much Pfizer knew about the connection between DMPA and meningioma risk.

Pfizer also manufactures a lower-dose version of Depo-Provera called Depo-SubQ Provera 104. This drug’s lower dose decreases the risks of adverse side effects, including meningiomas. Nevertheless, Pfizer continued to sell and market high-dose Depo-Provera without warning patients and medical providers about its risks or identifying its safer alternative. The lawsuits will likely delve into questions regarding Pfizer’s knowledge of both drugs’ meningioma risk, failure to warn, and the company’s marketing practices.

What To Do if You’re Battling a Brain Tumor After Depo-Provera Use

If you took Depo-Provera, you likely did so after investigating its cost, risks, and benefits. You may have chosen Depo-Provera because it sounded like the best option. However, if you had known about the link between Depo-Provera and an increased risk of developing a brain tumor, you may have chosen differently.

Discovering that a medication you thought was safe caused a brain tumor can be devastating. You may need to constantly monitor a medical condition that threatens basic functions like sight, hearing, or smell. You may need ongoing MRI or CT scans. You might be taking new medications to treat pain, seizures, or other symptoms. You may have had one or more brain surgeries, expect additional surgeries, or learned that your tumor is inoperable. You may even have received news that your meningioma is malignant – and have to live with the knowledge that you have brain cancer.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. An experienced legal team can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

Contact an attorney as soon as possible. While most lawsuits have time limits for filing, the calculation of this time limit often depends on the facts of the individual case. The sooner you speak to a lawyer, the sooner you can start protecting your legal rights and holding drug manufacturers accountable.

You can also help build your case by saving all the paperwork related to your meningioma appointments. Save medical bills, receipts, and notes from doctor’s visits. If possible, keep a journal, video diary, or other record of your experiences. This evidence can help build your case for compensation.

If you’re battling meningioma and used Depo-Provera, the experienced Michigan brain tumor attorneys at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. can help. Contact us online or call our office to schedule a free, confidential case evaluation.