Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Symptoms Create Lifelong Meningioma Fears Among Women

More than 10,000 women are already pursuing or planning to file Depo-Provera lawsuits, indicating the popular birth control shot caused devastating brain tumors.

After a series of studies established a strong link between Depo-Provera and meningioma side effects last year, a steadily growing number of women throughout the U.S. have been pursuing lawsuits, and millions of others face continuing fears that they may develop the dangerous brain tumors later in life.

Depo-Provera is a popular birth control injection, which has been widely used in the United States since 1992. The shot offers women a long-acting contraceptive option, by delivering the hormone medroxyprogesterone acetate to prevent pregnancy for up to three months per dose.

However, concerns about the safety of the birth control injection emerged after studies linked use of the Depo-Provera shot to a 5.5-fold increased risk of developing intracranial meningioma tumors, a condition that requires ongoing monitoring and in severe cases, surgical intervention.

Many women previously diagnosed with a meningioma brain tumor are just now learning that their condition may have been a direct result of the birth control injections they received years earlier. In addition, millions of other current and former Depo-Provera users who have not been diagnosed with meningioma are now questioning whether their headaches, vision changes or other neurological symptoms could be early signs of an undiagnosed brain tumor.

These concerns have led to a rising number of individual Depo-Provera meningioma lawsuits being filed, as well as Depo-Provera class action lawsuits seeking medical monitoring, with plaintiffs claiming that the manufacturers failed to adequately warn about the increased risk of intracranial meningioma side effects, or the need for ongoing medical monitoring.

Many of the women impacted by Depo-Provera have shared their experiences on this website, as well as other online forums and social media platforms, describing potential brain tumor symptoms from Depo-Provera, and expressing fear that their current, or past use of the birth control shot may leave them susceptible to developing a meningioma.

In this featured post, AboutLawsuits.com will explore the growing concerns surrounding Depo-Provera use, highlight symptoms that have been reported by women, and explain allegations being pursued in personal injury and medical monitoring lawsuits now being pursued to hold the manufacturers accountable.

Does Depo-Provera Cause Brain Tumors?

Depo-Provera has long been a convenient and reliable birth control option, offering women the freedom of long-term contraception without the hassle of remembering to take a daily pill. However, emerging research suggests that this convenience may come at a serious cost, with potential long-term health risks that many users were never warned about.

The birth control shot contains medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone, which is designed to to prevent pregnancy by suppressing ovulation, thickening cervical mucus to block sperm, and thinning the uterine lining to prevent implantation.

However, research has found that Depo-Provera’s MPA can bind to hormone receptors in the brain. Since meningiomas are hormone-sensitive tumors, this interaction may stimulate abnormal cell growth, potentially increasing the risk of tumor development and progression, particularly in individuals with prolonged exposure to the drug.

Depo-Provera’s Synthetic Ingredient Linked to 5x Brain Tumor Risk

A study published in The British Medical Journal (The BMJ) on March 27, 2024, shined a new light on these concerns. Researchers analyzed health data from over 108,000 women in the French National Health Data System and found that those who used Depo-Provera faced a 5.55 times higher risk of developing meningiomas compared to women who never used the contraceptive.

For women who have relied on Depo-Provera for years, symptoms like persistent headaches, vision disturbances and memory problems, might now take on new meaning. What once seemed like everyday stress or aging-related issues could actually be early warning signs of a serious condition linked to prolonged use of synthetic hormones.

One-Year Depo-Provera Use Found to Triple Meningioma Risk

In February 2025, another new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia added additional concerns, finding that approximately one in every 1,111 women receiving the quarterly injection for a year may develop a brain tumor.

The study examined health records from more than 72,000 Depo-Provera recipients and 247,000 oral contraceptive users, finding that those who received the birth control shot for one year or longer faced a 3.55 times higher risk of developing intracranial meningiomas than women who used traditional oral contraceptives.  

The researchers also noted that Pfizer has updated Depo-Provera warning labels in the European Union and the United Kingdom to list meningioma as a possible side effect, while no similar action has been taken by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The authors concluded that their findings “add to the existing body of evidence that MPA can increase the risk of meningioma,” and called for updated U.S. warnings to alert women about this serious, though rare, risk.

Depo-Provera Injections Pose Higher Brain Tumor Risk Than Pills

In another study published in Expert Opinion on Drug Safety on July 11, 2025, researchers compared women who used Depo-Provera injections with those who took standard ethinylestradiol-levonorgestrel birth control pills. They found that women who received Depo-Provera for more than a year were about 3.5 times more likely to develop an intracranial meningioma than pill users.

The analysis drew on a large U.S. insurance claims database (2006–2020) and focused on new users to make a fair comparison. While the authors urged additional research to confirm the findings, they concluded the signal is strong enough to warrant caution and closer monitoring for women using the shot long-term.

Depo-Provera Users Over Age 31 Show Elevated Tumor Risks

Earlier this month, a study was published in the medical journal JAMA Neurology, highlighting additional data that shows that women over the age of 31 who used Depo-Provera are at an even greater risk of developing meningiomas compared to younger users. 

The researchers found that those who received Depo-Provera injections faced a 2.43-fold higher risk of developing intracranial meningiomas compared to women who did not use the drug.

Reports Link Depo-Provera to Rare Severe Blood Clots

In recent months, Depo-Provera has not only been linked to meningioma risks, but also blood clots. In a case report published in Cureus on February 21, researchers documented a rare but severe instance of blood clots forming in a woman who had been using Depo-Provera, leading to life-threatening complications. 

The report emphasized that while blood clots are an uncommon side effect, the potential severity of these events highlights the need for closer evaluation of patients’ vascular risk factors before prescribing the injection.

In another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in February 2025, researchers indicated that the risk of dangerous blood clots depends on the birth control used. Shots like Depo-Provera and combination pills carried the highest risk

Understanding Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Symptoms

It can be easy to dismiss frequent headaches or occasional dizziness as stress or the demands of a busy lifestyle. However, for some women, these seemingly harmless symptoms may indicate a far more serious underlying condition such as meningiomas, tumors that develop in the protective layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

While meningiomas are often benign and slow-growing, they can still lead to serious health complications depending on their size, growth rate and location. In many cases, the tumors remain asymptomatic in the early stages, making them difficult to detect. Over time, however, they can gradually enlarge, causing symptoms that may go unnoticed or be misattributed to other common health concerns.

Common Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Symptoms

Women who are still taking Depo-Provera, or previously received courses of the Depo-shot, may unknowingly be at risk for meningiomas, with symptoms that can slowly interfere with daily life and overall well-being.

As these tumors grow, they can exert pressure on surrounding brain structures, leading to a range of symptoms, including:

• Headaches: Persistent or worsening headaches that do not respond to usual treatments.
• Vision disturbances: Blurred vision, double vision or vision loss in one or both eyes.
• Hearing loss: Gradual or sudden hearing impairment, often accompanied by ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
• Memory problems: Difficulty with concentration, forgetfulness or noticeable cognitive decline.
• Dizziness and balance issues: Frequent vertigo, unsteadiness or coordination difficulties.
• Seizures: Sudden, unexplained seizures or unusual neurological activity.
• Fatigue: Persistent tiredness that doesn’t improve with rest and affects daily activities.
• Speech difficulties: Slurred speech or trouble finding the right words in conversation.
• Nausea and vomiting: Unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms that persist without an obvious cause.

Real Stories of Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Symptoms

For many women, the potential link between Depo-Provera and meningiomas is more than just a health concern, it is a reality they face every day.

On AboutLawsuits.com, numerous former Depo-Provera users have shared their personal experiences, describing symptoms that mirror those associated with meningiomas, highlighting the significant impact this condition has had on their lives.

Personal Accounts of Depo-Provera-Related Brain Tumor Symptoms

• Roxanne (December 14, 2024): “I’ve experienced severe headaches and dizziness, to the point where even the slightest angle of my head being below my heart makes me feel dizzy—even while lying down. I also struggle with instability when walking and memory loss.”
• Gracie (November 7, 2024): “I developed a meningioma tumor that caused me to lose my hearing. It grew dangerously close to my hearing nerve.”
• Kelly (September 13, 2024): “I’ve been dealing with headaches, vision problems, nausea, imbalance, memory loss, and swelling with fluid buildup on the back left side of my skull.”
• Lyndsie (December 15, 2024): “I used Depo-Provera for just one year in 2003, and soon after, I developed extremely high blood pressure. The pressure headaches behind my eyes have persisted for 20 years, and I still haven’t been diagnosed.”

These firsthand accounts highlight the urgent need for women who have taken Depo-Provera to receive medical scans and ongoing monitoring to detect meningiomas early, and track their growth for proper intervention.

Depo-Provera Medical Monitoring Class Action Lawsuit

In response to these growing concerns, a Depo-Provera medical monitoring class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The lawsuit was brought by plaintiff Patricia Bonilla, on behalf of herself and other similarly situated women, seeking to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for failing to warn consumers about the potential risks associated with long-term Depo-Provera use.

The complaint argues that women who have used the contraceptive are at an increased risk of developing intracranial meningiomas and require comprehensive medical monitoring to ensure early detection and treatment.

According to the lawsuit, Depo-Provera users need access to a range of diagnostic tests and specialist evaluations to properly monitor their health and mitigate potential complications.

Depo-Provera Federal MDL: Where the Litigation Stands

Amid mounting evidence linking Depo-Provera exposure to intracranial meningioma, and a rapid rise in lawsuits nationwide, the federal courts have combined the cases into a single multidistrict litigation in the Northern District of Florida, overseen by U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. 

As of September 2025, roughly 1,000 cases are already on file, with roughly 9,500 additional claims under investigation, all alleging that Pfizer and related defendants failed to warn about long-term tumor risks from the birth control shot.

Judge Rodgers has directed the parties to prepare a small group of pilot cases for early jury trials, which the court expects to be trial-ready in late 2026 or early 2027. 

However, before any trials begin, the court will address key pretrial motions that could shape the litigation, including Pfizer’s August 22, 2025 motion for summary judgment arguing that state-law failure-to-warn claims are preempted by federal law because the FDA declined a 2023 request to add a meningioma warning. 

Plaintiffs will oppose the motion, and the court has set oral arguments for September 29, 2025, immediately after the next status conference, with a joint agenda due September 24.

Depo-Provera Meningioma Lawsuits Reviewed Nationwide

If you have experienced brain tumor symptoms from Depo-Provera, such as persistent headaches, vision problems, dizziness, or memory loss, or have been diagnosed with a meningioma, contact your healthcare provider immediately to evaluate your health concerns. If a meningioma brain tumor is diagnosed, then steps should be taken to review your legal rights.

Depo-Provera meningioma lawyers provide free consultations and claim evaluations for women throughout the U.S., to help determine whether financial compensation may be available from the drug makers for failing to warn women about the serious risks associated with the contraceptive. Depo-Provera settlement benefits may cover medical expenses, ongoing monitoring, lost wages, as well as the immense pain and suffering that may result from a meningioma.

To see if you qualify for a Depo-Provera shot lawsuit, submit information about your claim to be reviewed by a team of Depo-Provera lawsuit lawyers. All Depo-shot lawsuits are handled on a contingency basis, which means there are no fees or expenses unless a settlement is obtained from the manufacturer.