Experts Weigh In On Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Risks, As Lawsuits Continue to Mount

With hundreds of women now pursuing Depo-Provera lawsuits, a number of medical and legal experts are sharing key insights about the risk of meningioma linked to the popular birth control shot.

Recent studies warn of a strong association between the Depo-Provera birth control shot and the development of meningiomas, which has led to a growing number of lawsuits being pursued against the drug maker for failing to warn women about the potential side effect.

Depo-Provera is a long-acting hormonal contraceptive administered every three months, which contains the synthetic progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate. It has been widely used for decades by millions of women seeking a convenient form of birth control, particularly among those looking to avoid daily pills or long-term implants. While the shot has historically been considered safe, concerns have grown over its impact on hormone-sensitive tissue in the brain.

Those concerns gained national attention in early 2024, when a study published in the medical journal The BMJ found that women using Depo-Provera for more than a year faced a 5.55 times higher risk of developing a meningioma, which are slow-growing but potentially dangerous brain tumors that can cause vision changes, headaches, and neurological impairment.

Last month, another study was published in Expert Opinion on Drug Safety, validating these findings and warning that risks associated with long-term use of Depo-Provera were substantially higher than among women using older birth control pills containing levonorgestrel.

In response to the findings, more than 550 women have filed Depo-Provera meningioma lawsuits, each alleging the manufacturer failed to adequately warn about the brain tumor risks. Given the rising number of claims being filed across the nation, the cases have been centralized in a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Northern District of Florida, where coordinated pretrial proceedings are underway and the scope of the litigation continues to expand.

In this post, AboutLawsuits will highlight medical and legal perspectives on the emerging brain tumor risks associated with Depo-Provera, including expert commentary from a neurosurgeon and a personal injury lawyer from a national law firm handling these brain tumor lawsuits.

Neurosurgeon Raises Longstanding Concerns About Depo-Provera and Brain Tumors

One of the most prominent medical voices highlighting concerns over Depo-Provera and brain tumors is Dr. Martin Rutkowski, a board-certified neurosurgeon and assistant professor at UCSF, where he specializes in brain tumor surgery and cranial nerve disorders.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Dr. Rutkowski discusses the recently published data linking hormonal contraceptives to meningiomas, and notes that he has been warning patients about these risks for years.

🎥 Watch Dr. Rutkowski’s full video here:

In the three-minute video, Dr. Rutkowski breaks down findings from a large observational study published in the British Medical Journal, which examined over 100,000 women and found that those taking progesterone-based medications were two to five times more likely to develop meningioma tumors.

These tumors, he explains, arise from the protective membranes surrounding the brain, and while most are benign, their inward growth can place dangerous pressure on brain tissue and cause significant neurological symptoms.

“I’ve been cautioning my female patients for years about the dangers of progesterone-based medications and meningioma.”
— Dr. Martin Rutkowski, Neurosurgeon at UCSF

How Depo-Provera May Trigger Brain Tumor Growth

Dr. Rutkowski explains that the biological mechanism behind this risk is well understood. Most meningiomas contain progesterone receptors, meaning the synthetic hormones in Depo-Provera and similar medications can bind to those receptors and stimulate tumor growth.

“Think of the receptors as locks,” he says in the video, “that get opened by the progesterone key.”
— Dr. Martin Rutkowski, Neurosurgeon at UCSF

Dr. Rutkowski’s point is that these tumors don’t develop at random, they respond to specific hormonal signals in the body.

When Depo-Provera is injected, the synthetic progesterone circulates through the bloodstream and may bind directly to these hormone-sensitive sites in the meninges, the protective layers surrounding the brain. In doing so, it can essentially flip a biological switch that causes a dormant tumor to grow, or accelerates one that has already begun forming.

This is not just a theoretical concern. It’s a pharmacological interaction with real-world consequences, especially for women who may unknowingly have early-stage meningiomas or a genetic predisposition that increases their susceptibility.

Dr. Rutkowski has long cautioned patients about these risks and recommends avoiding progesterone-based therapies in cases where family history or other risk factors are present.

While he acknowledges the study’s limitations, including that only three specific progesterone-based drugs showed elevated risk and that most tumors occurred in women over 45, Dr. Rutkowski underscores that the findings could impact millions of women worldwide. In his view, the study warrants greater caution when prescribing these medications, and he suggests screening may be appropriate in high-risk cases.

Attorney Discusses Lawsuits Over Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Risks

While medical experts like Dr. Martin Rutkowski have raised concerns about the biological effects of Depo-Provera on brain tissue, personal injury lawyer Carl B. Saiontz of Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. is helping women pursue legal claims after being diagnosed with meningioma brain tumors.

In a recent informational video, Saiontz explains how the research published in the British Medical Journal has led to a growing number of lawsuits being filed against Pfizer Inc., the manufacturer of the birth control injection.

The study found that women who received Depo-Provera for longer than one year faced a fivefold increased risk of developing meningioma, a tumor that forms in the membranes surrounding the brain and can cause serious neurological symptoms.

Saiontz outlines how these lawsuits allege that Pfizer failed to adequately warn patients and healthcare providers about this risk, and emphasizes that women diagnosed with meningioma after using Depo-Provera may be entitled to financial compensation for their injuries.

🎥 Watch Carl Saiontz’s video here:

What Types of Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Lawsuits Are Being Filed?

As scientific evidence continues to emerge linking Depo-Provera to an increased risk of meningioma, lawsuits are being filed against Pfizer Inc., the drug’s manufacturer, by women who allege the company failed to adequately warn about the potential danger.

Currently, two primary types of claims are being pursued:

• Individual personal injury lawsuits
  Filed by women who were diagnosed with a meningioma after receiving Depo-Provera injections. These lawsuits seek compensation for:
  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Neurological injuries or impairments
  • Lost income or earning capacity
  • Pain, suffering, and loss of quality of life
• Class action claims for medical monitoring
  Filed on behalf of women who used Depo-Provera but have not been diagnosed with a tumor. These lawsuits seek court-ordered funding for:
  • Regular brain imaging (MRI or CT scans)
  • Preventive medical evaluations
  • Ongoing surveillance of high-risk individuals

All lawsuits name Pfizer Inc. as the main defendant, alleging that the drug maker knew or should have known about the drug’s link to hormone-sensitive brain tumors and failed to provide appropriate warnings to doctors and patients. Plaintiffs claim that Depo-Provera was marketed and prescribed for years without disclosing the risk of slow-growing but potentially dangerous tumors forming in the membranes surrounding the brain.

How to Start A Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Lawsuit

If you’ve been diagnosed with a qualifying type of brain tumor after receiving Depo-Provera injections, signing up for a lawsuit is straightforward—and there is no cost to get started.

Every case begins with a free consultation with an experienced product liability attorney. During this review, a Depo-Provera lawyer will help confirm your eligibility by evaluating your diagnosis, injection history and timeline.

Even if you are unsure which type of meningioma you had or which formulation of Depo-Provera you received, attorneys can assist in gathering the records needed to support your claim.

You can begin the process by filling out the form below to submit your information. If your case qualifies, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical expenses and long-term care
• Lost wages or reduced earning potential
• Physical and emotional suffering caused by the tumor or treatment
• The cost of future monitoring or neurological care

There are no fees or expenses unless you win. Lawyers handling Depo-Provera lawsuits work on a contingency basis, so there’s no financial risk in finding out whether you qualify.