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Depo-Provera Lawsuit Overview

Depo-Provera is a birth control injection, which uses a synthetic hormone to prevent pregnancy. The shot works by stoping ovulation and making changes to the cervical environment, as well as the uterine lining

The birth control shot was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1992, and has been marketed heavily by Pfizer as a safe and effective method for preventing pregnancy. However, recent medical research has linked side effects of Depo-Provera to an increased risk of rare brain tumors called meningiomas.

Due to the failure to warn about these potential risks, lawyers are now reviewing Depo-Provera lawsuits against Pfizer, alleging that the drug manufacturer knew, or should have known about the risk of brain tumors from Depo-Provera birth control injections.

Who is Eligible for a Depo-Provera Lawsuit?

Financial compensation may be available through a Depo-Provera lawsuit settlement for women who received at least two name-brand or generic Depo-Provera shots, and suffered any of the following complications:

• Meningioma
• Other Brain Tumor

Lawyers are actively investigating new Depo-Provera brain tumor side effect lawsuits against the manufacturer for women throughout the United States who have developed injuries that could have been prevented.

To determine if you or a loved one qualify for a Depo-Provera lawsuit, submit information for review by a Depo Provera lawyer, who will evaluate the circumstances of your potential claim. There are no fees or expenses paid unless a settlement or lawsuit payout is received.

Depo-Provera Lawsuit 2025 Updates

• March 24, 2025 Update: Judge Rodgers issued a Case Management Order on March 18, streamlining the process for the Depo-Provera MDL, setting a swift timeline that began with the opening of the discovery phase on March 27, 2025. She has laid out important dates, including the end of key evidence gathering by September 23, 2025, and a deadline for challenging expert witness testimonies by February 10, 2026. With a collaborative approach between the parties, the litigation is moving quickly towards its initial trials, which could begin as soon as late 2026 or early 2027.
• March 14, 2024 Update: Today marks the second day of meetings led by the U.S. District Judge presiding over the Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuits. The discussions are focused on selecting leadership for the plaintiffs’ steering committee from a pool of 75 attorneys. This committee will play a pivotal role in the pretrial proceedings of the federal multidistrict litigation (MDL), advocating for women who allege that the birth control shot Depo-Provera caused their meningioma brain tumors.
• March 4, 2025 Update: In a pretrial order issued late last month, Judge Rodgers called for attorneys to submit applications for Depo-Provera MDL leadership positions by the end of the week. The judge stressed the importance of ensuring female attorneys are adequately represented within the plaintiffs’ leadership team, which will advocate for all women pursuing claims over brain tumors linked to the popular birth control shot.
• March 3, 2025 Update: Following the establishment of a Depo-Provera MDL last month, the JPML has reported there are already 78 Depo-Provera meningioma lawsuits pending in the litigation.
• February 26, 2025 Update: In a rare move for new multidistrict litigation, the U.S. District Judge overseeing all Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuits has already selected five “pilot” cases to be fast-tracked for early test trials. The selection was announced during the first case management conference on February 21, as part of the recently formed federal MDL over claims that Depo-Provera birth control shots may cause meningiomas, a type of brain tumor.
• February 7, 2025 Update: The JPML has issued an order centralizing all Depo-Provera meningioma lawsuits as an MDL (No 3140), before Judge M. Casey Rodgers in the Northern District of Florida. With 27 cases filed across eight districts and 41 related actions pending at the time the order was issued, the Depo-Provera MDL is expected to grow as more women pursue claims against Pfizer and other manufacturers.
• February 6, 2025 Update: In a new study titled “Use of Medroxyprogesterone Acetate and Risk of Meningiomas: A Comparative Safety Study” that is currently awaiting peer review, researchers found that for every 1,111 women treated annually with Depo-Provera, at least one might develop a meningioma. The researchers indicate that women using the shot for more than a year were found to have a 3.55 times greater risk of this brain tumor compared to those on oral contraceptives.
• February 2, 2025 Update: At a hearing held last week at the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Miami, Florida, the drug manufacturers and plaintiffs counsel presented arguments for centralizing the growing number of Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuits before one judge in federal court. With the majority of parties in agreement for centralizing, it is expected that the JPML will make a swift decision on the matter.
• January 21, 2025 Update: A Depo-Provera class action lawsuit has been filed, seeking medical monitoring for women who have received the birth control shot, and now face an increased risk of developing meningioma brain and spinal tumors as a result of the manufacturers failure to warn about potential side effects.
• January 1, 2025 Update: In response to a motion to consolidate Depo-Provera lawsuits into a multidistrict litigation (MDL), the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) announced in December that it will hold a hearing to consider oral arguments later this month. The hearing on whether to consolidate Depo-Provera lawsuits is scheduled for January 30, 2025, at the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Miami, Florida. During the session, the panel will consider arguments from both sides on whether the lawsuits, which involve similar claims about Depo-Provera’s side effects, should be centralized in one court to streamline pretrial proceedings and reduce duplicative discovery efforts.
• December 24, 2024 Update: In a response filed on December 23, Pfizer acknowledged the need to establish a Depo-Provera MDL to centralize the litigation. However, the company opposed California as the proposed venue, arguing that the lawsuits should instead be transferred to New York City, where its corporate headquarters are located.
• December 2, 2024 Update: Nearly a dozen Depo-Provera brain tumor plaintiffs have jointly filed a motion for transfer with the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML), calling for all claims filed throughout the federal court system to be centralized in the Northern District of California, as part of a Depo-Provera multidistrict litigation, or MDL. The motion states there have been 22 Depo-Provera lawsuits filed in eight different district courts, with six of those pending in the Northern District of California, each raising nearly identical allegations.
• November 11, 2024 Update: A California woman has filed a product liability lawsuit against several pharmaceutical companies involved in the development and sale of Depo-Provera, alleging that the birth control shot caused her to develop a meningioma tumor that required complex brain surgery, resulting in permanent impairments.
• November 1, 2024 Update: The number of Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuits filed continues to grow, with the latest Depo-Provera complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by California resident, Monique Jones, who claims she developed a meningioma brain tumor from Using Depo-Provera birth control shots for nearly 25 years. The lawsuit claims the tumor is now considered too dangerous to remove, which will likely result in life-long side effects.
• October 17, 2024 Update: The second Depo-Provera birth control lawsuit over meningioma side effects was filed on October 15, indicating that the manufacturers knew or should have the injectable contraceptive Depo-Provera increases the risk of developing meningiomas, but failed to provide any brain tumor warnings for Depo-Provera users or the medical community.
• October 4, 2024 Update: The first of what is expected to be many Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuits was filed by Kristina Schmidt in the United States District Court Northern District of California on October 1. Schmidt alleges that over the years she experienced Depo-Provera side effects from the injections, including severe headaches, dizziness, and vertigo, which led to her diagnosis of a Grade 1 and Grade 2 Sylvian fissure meningioma brain tumor in June 2022. The lawsuit against Pfizer, the manufacturer, claims that the tumor was caused by the birth control injections, citing that the active ingredient, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), can promote abnormal cell growth leading to tumors, and accuses Pfizer of failure to warn, defective design, and other charges reflecting a serious oversight in consumer safety.
• September 12, 2024 Update: As lawyers continue to review the medical literature supporting a potential causal link between Depo-Provera and meningioma brain tumors, new information continues to emerge that suggests Pfizer should have known about the risk for decades.
• August 3, 2024 Update: Following a study released earlier this outlining Depo-Provera brain tumor risks, lawyers are now investigating product liability lawsuits over potential failure to warn a design defect claims against Pfizer Inc., who is the manufacturer of injectable contraceptive.
• March 28, 2024 Update: A groundbreaking study has found that women using Depo-Provera birth control shots are 5.5 times more likely to develop meningiomas, which is a rare but serious type of brain tumor that often requires surgical removal.

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What is Depo-Provera?

Depo-Provera is a contraceptive injection (birth control shot) that contains medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), which is a synthetic form of the hormone progestin that mimics the natural hormone progesterone.

Similar to natural progesterone, MPA works by inhibiting ovulation, ensuring no egg is released for fertilization. Additionally, it thickens cervical mucus to impede sperm movement and alters the uterine lining to prevent implantation of any fertilized egg.

Depo-Provera is administered as an intramuscular injection in the arm or butt once every three months, or about every 12 to 14, weeks to allow for a slow and consistent release of MPA into the bloodstream.

Many women have chosen Depo-Provera for its convenient injection schedule, which eliminates daily or weekly contraceptive routines. However, recent medical research indicates that users have faced an increased risk of brain tumors from Depo-Provera, which was not disclosed by the drug maker on the warning label.

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Depo-Provera Linked to Brain Tumor Risks

In a study published in the the medical journal The BMJ on March 27, 2024, Noémie Roland and a team of researchers found that women using Depo-Provera for one year or longer faced a 5.55 times higher risk of developing meningioma brain tumors, when compared to individuals who had not received the birth control injection.  This has raised serious concerns about the increased risk of developing brain tumors.

Researchers analyzed data from over 108,000 women in the French National Health Data System, focusing on 18,000 women in France who had brain surgery for meningioma between 2009 and 2018. Each of these women were matched with five control subjects for robust comparison.

The study assessed various synthetic progestogens administered through different methods, including oral, vaginal, and injectable routes, finding an increased risk of brain tumors amongst each;

• Medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera): 5.55 times higher risk of meningioma among users.
• Medrogestone: 3.49 times higher risk of meningioma among users.
• Promegestone: 2.39 times higher risk of meningioma among users.

According to the study, there are approximately 74 million Depo-Provera users worldwide, which suggests a potentially widespread health concern for millions of women, who were unknowingly exposed to an increased risk of developing meningiomas from Depo-Provera use.

Depo-Provera Linked to 3-Fold Meningioma Risk: Study

In a non-peer reviewed study recently conducted by Dr. Mahyar Etminan and a team of researchers from the University of British Columbia, the authors sought to quantify the actual risk of brain tumors among women who received regular Depo-Provera injections, finding:

• For every 1,111 women using Depo-Provera for a year, there is at least one case of meningioma.
• Women using Depo-Provera for more than a year face a 3.55 times higher risk of developing meningioma compared to those on oral contraceptives.

What is a Meningioma Brain Tumor?

A meningioma is a type of tumor that arises from the meninges, which consists of three protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. These include the;

1. Dura Mater: The outermost and toughest layer, which is closest to the skull and vertebral column.
2. Arachnoid Mater: The middle layer, which is web-like and sits between the dura mater and the pia mater. It contains cerebrospinal fluid that cushions the brain and spinal cord.
3. Pia Mater: The innermost layer, which is delicate and adheres closely to the surface of the brain and spinal cord, following their contours.

While most meningiomas are benign (non-cancerous) and grow slowly, they can still cause significant symptoms and complications depending on their size and location within the cranial cavity.

Depo-Provera meningiomas may be classified into three grades, based on their behavior:

• Grade I Meningiomas: These are benign tumors that grow very slowly and account for about 80% of meningioma cases.
• Grade II Meningiomas: Although still non-cancerous, these tumors grow more quickly and are more challenging to treat.
• Grade III Meningiomas: These are malignant tumors that grow rapidly and aggressively, representing less than 2% of all meningioma cases.

Grade I meningiomas from Depo-Provera will typically require surgical removal, often with good outcomes. If Depo-Provera causes a Grade II and III meningiomas, women may require a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and possibly chemotherapy, depending on their growth rate and aggressiveness.

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How Does Depo-Provera Cause Meningioma Brain Tumors?

Medical research indicates that long-term exposure to Depo-Provera may cause meningiomas, due to its active ingredient medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), which has been found to elevate the risk of developing brain tumors.

The meninges, which are the protective layers covering the brain and spinal cord, contain hormone receptors, including those for progesterone. These receptors play a crucial role in cellular regulation.

Research suggests that when Depo-Provera’s MPA binds to these progesterone receptors in the meninges, it can activate signaling pathways that promote abnormal cell proliferation. This increased cell growth in the meninges could potentially lead to the formation of meningiomas.

Symptoms of Meningiomas from Depo-Provera

Symptoms of meningioma for those who received or are currently taking Depo-Provera injections can include:

• Vision changes: Seeing double or blurriness
• Headaches: Headaches that worsen over time, or are worse in the morning
• Hearing loss: Hearing loss or ringing in the ears
• Memory loss: Memory loss
• Loss of smell: Loss of smell
• Seizures: Seizures
• Weakness: Weakness in the arms or legs
• Trouble speaking: Difficulty speaking
• Confusion: Confusion
• Balance loss: Loss of balance

Depo-Provera Side Effects

In addition to the potential risk of brain tumors, Depo-Provera has been associated with a range of other side effects, including:

• Irregular Menstrual Bleeding: This can include spotting, prolonged bleeding, or complete cessation of periods.
• Weight Gain: Many users experience weight increase while using the injection.
• Headaches: Frequent headaches or migraines can occur.
• Mood Changes: Some individuals report mood swings, depression, or anxiety.
• Reduced Bone Density: Prolonged use can lead to a decrease in bone mineral density.
• Nausea: Some users may feel nauseous or experience gastrointestinal discomfort.

These risks are included on the Depo-Provera FDA warning label.  However, there are other potential side effects that it now appears Pfizer did not adequately disclose to users and the medical community.

Pseudotumor Cerebri Side Effects From Depo-Provera

While rare, Pfizer has faced a number of Depo-Provera lawsuits over pseudotumor cerebri side effects in prior years.

This condition is characterized by increased pressure within the skull, which can mimic the symptoms of a brain tumor from Depo-Provera, without the presence of an actual tumor, which can include;

• Headaches: Severe, persistent headaches are a common symptom.
• Vision Problems: Patients may experience blurred vision, double vision, or even vision loss.
• Nausea and Vomiting: Increased intracranial pressure can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms.
• Tinnitus: Ringing in the ears can occur as a result of increased pressure.

To manage any Depo-Provera pseudotumor cerebri side effects, women may require a number of treatments, such as:

• Medication: Diuretics like acetazolamide may be prescribed to reduce cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) production and lower intracranial pressure.
• Lumbar Punctures: Also known as spinal taps, these are used to relieve pressure by removing excess CSF from the spinal canal.

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Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Lawsuit MDL No. 3140

With a growing number of women diagnosed with meningiomas and other brain tumors filing Depo-Provera lawsuits, each raising similar allegations that the manufacturer failed to warn about the risks associated with prolonged use of the birth control injection, a Depo-Provera MDL has been established.

A group of plaintiffs petitioned the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) in November 2024, seeking to to consolidate all Depo-Provera lawsuits before a single judge for coordinated pretrial proceedings. While Pfizer and generic manufacturers agreed all brain tumor lawsuits over Depo-Provera should be centralized, the drug companies disagreed with plaintiffs about where the cases should be transferred.

On January 30, 2025, the JPML held oral arguments at the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Miami, Florida, where both sides presented their positions on the appropriate venue for the litigation.

On February 7, 2025, the JPML approved the motion, establishing the Depo-Provera (Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate) Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 3140), determining that all current and future claims brought throughout the federal court system will be transferred to the Northern District of Florida, where Judge M. Casey Rodgers will oversee the litigation.

While plaintiffs sought consolidation in California and defendants proposed New York, the JPML determined that Florida offered the best venue to manage the growing litigation efficiently.

As the Depo-Provera MDL continues to grow, it is expected that Judge Rodgers will establish an early bellwether program, where a small group of representative claims may be prepared for early trial dates to help gauge how juries may respond to certain evidence and testimony that will be repeated throughout the litigation. The average Depo-Provera lawsuit payouts may also influence settlement amounts the drug makers may need to pay to resolve claims in the future.

Who is the Depo-Provera Lawsuit Against?

The defendants listed in the Depo-Provera (Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate) Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 3140) lawsuits include:

• Pfizer Inc.
• Pharmacia & Upjohn Co. LLC
• Pharmacia LLC
• Greenstone LLC
• Viatris Inc.
• Prasco, LLC d/b/a Prasco Laboratories

These companies are named in the lawsuits for their role in manufacturing, marketing, or distributing Depo-Provera and its generic versions.

Drug makers have a responsibility to thoroughly investigate and assess the safety of their product. This includes conducting rigorous research and clinical trials to identify potential risks, such as the association between prescribing Depo-Provera birth control medication and brain tumors.

Once potential risks are identified, drug makers have a duty to disclose these risks transparently to Depo Provera patients and healthcare professionals. This means updating the Depo-Provera label with accurate warnings, providing clear information about potential short and long term Depo-Provera side effects, and ensuring that users and doctors are aware of the risks involved.

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Is There A Depo-Provera Class Action Lawsuit?

Yes, Depo-Provera class action lawsuits are being filed seeking medical monitoring for women who received the birth control injection for a year or more and have not yet been diagnosed with intracranial meningiomas.

The lawsuit aims to establish a court-supervised, defendant-funded medical monitoring program to facilitate early detection and treatment of potential brain tumors. It seeks to cover individuals residing in several states, including Arizona, California, Florida, and Pennsylvania, among others.

Plaintiffs argue that routine medical exams do not include the necessary diagnostic imaging, such as MRIs and CT scans, which are required to monitor for meningiomas.

If approved, the medical monitoring program would require the manufacturers of Depo-Provera, including Pfizer and generic manufacturers, to fund and oversee periodic medical screenings for affected individuals. The program is expected to include written notifications to class members about their need for monitoring, comprehensive diagnostic testing, medical consultations, and coverage for any necessary follow-up procedures.

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Depo Provera Meningioma Lawsuit Examples

Depo-Provera Meningioma Class Action Lawsuit

Patricia Bonilla filed a Depo-Provera class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on January 17, seeking brain tumor medical monitoring for women who received 50 mg Depo-Provera injections for at least a year, and have not yet been diagnosed with intracranial meningiomas.

While she has not been diagnosed with intracranial meningiomas, Bonilla class action lawsuit is seeking to have the court establish a nationwide Depo-Provera medical monitoring class action, for women who received the injections in Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont or West Virginia, with alternative subclasses proposed for certain specific states.

Depo-Provera Injections Caused Meningioma Brain Tumor: Lawsuit

Kristina Maguire filed a new Depo Provera Lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on January 8, claiming that nearly 10 years of Depo-Provera birth control injections caused a Massachusetts woman to develop an inoperable brain tumor, leading to a permanent speech impairment.

Maguire’s lawsuit states she received Depo-Provera injections from 1996 to 2005. By 2008, she began experiencing drooling and slurred speech, which worsened until an MRI revealed a brain tumor pressing on her facial nerve. Due to its location at the base of the brain, surgical removal is considered too dangerous.

Maguire claims she faces worsening symptoms, the need for regular medical monitoring, and the potential of completely losing the function of her tongue.

Depo-Provera Shot Lawsuit Filed Over Meningioma

Lesley and Justin Noble filed a Depo-Provera birth control shot lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana on October 15, claiming that her use of the birth control injection for roughly 24 years caused her to develop a large meningioma, which had to be surgically removed in July 2017.

According to the complaint, Noble underwent 36 rounds of radiation treatments to stop the growth of the brain tumor, unaware that the birth control shot had any connection to her meningioma. Lesley and Justin Noble’s lawsuit claims that the drug manufacturers purposefully concealed the Depo-Provera brain tumor risks to maximize profits, even at the expense of women’s health.

Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Lawsuit

Kristina Schmidt filed the first Depo-Provera lawsuit in the United States District Court Northern District of California on October 1, 2024, asserting her prolonged use of Depo-Provera birth control injections received from 2005 to 2021 at a Planned Parenthood in San Ramon, California caused her to develop a Grade 1 and Grade 2 brain tumor known as a Sylvian fissure meningioma at the age of 37 in June 2022.

The lawsuit contends that Pfizer and other manufacturers of Depo-Provera were aware or should have been aware of the Depo-Provera brain tumor side effects, supported by substantial research indicating that the active ingredient, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), activates cell growth pathways that can lead to meningioma. Schmidt’s claims against the manufacturers include failure to warn, inadequate testing, defective design, misrepresentation, fraud, and breach of warranty.

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Contact a Depo-Provera Lawyer

Depo-Provera lawyers are providing free consultations and claim evaluations for individuals who received the birth control shots and developed meningioma brain tumors or were diagnosed with Pseudotumor Cerebri.

Attorneys handle all Depo shot meningioma lawsuits on a contingency fee basis, which means that there are no fees or expenses paid unless a settlement or lawsuit payout is received.

How to File a Depo-Provera Lawsuit?

To determine whether you or a loved one may be eligible for a Depo-Provera settlement, submit information about your potential claim for review by a lawyer to determine whether a settlement or lawsuit payout may be available.

There are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained in your case.

Find Out If You Qualify For a Depo Provera Lawsuit