Increased Risk of Intracranial Meningioma for Women Using Depo-Provera

Should You Take Part in a Depo-Provera Lawsuit? Contact Us to Find Out for Free

A recent study has linked the use of the contraceptive medication Depo-Provera to an increased risk of intracranial meningioma. This, in turn, has triggered what is expected to be a wave of lawsuits against Depo-Provera’s manufacturer, Pfizer Inc.

If you or a loved one has taken Depo-Provera, what do you need to know?

The study’s conclusion is clear: “Prolonged use of . . . medroxyprogesterone acetate . . . was found to increase the risk of intracranial meningioma. The increased risk associated with the use of injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate, a widely used contraceptive . . . [is an] important new finding.” Medroxyprogesterone acetate is the generic name for Depo-Provera. Given this conclusion, anyone who has concerns about intracranial meningioma after taking Depo-Provera should consult with their doctor promptly, and anyone who receives an intracranial meningioma diagnosis after taking the contraceptive should talk to a Depo-Provera lawsuit attorney about their legal rights. You may have grounds to file a Depo-Provera lawsuit.

Latest Updates on the Depo-Provera Multidistrict Litigation (MDL)

In February 2025, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) consolidated more than 70 pending Depo-Provera lawsuits into a single multidistrict litigation (MDL) proceeding. This is a significant development that has important implications for both current and prospective plaintiffs. Under the February 7, 2025 consolidation order, the Depo-Provera MDL will take place in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

Why is this significant? Here are some key facts that patients and their families need to know about the newly formed Depo-Provera MDL:

• In MDL proceedings, plaintiffs (and their lawyers) are able to share the evidence they obtain from the defendants, streamlining the process of proving their claims.
• Unlike class action lawsuits, in MDL cases, all plaintiffs retain the ability to seek full compensation for their specific financial and non-financial losses.
• While successful MDL cases often result in global settlements, individual plaintiffs can generally decide whether to participate in a global settlement or continue fighting for additional compensation.

Additionally, when facing MDL proceedings, defendants will often feel enhanced pressure to settle—as a single plaintiff-friendly verdict could expose them to substantial liability. So, while there are no guarantees, the fact that there is now a Depo-Provera MDL is good news for patients and families who are thinking about asserting their legal rights.

Since forming the Depo-Provera MDL in February 2025, the judge presiding over the litigation has issued some other important orders as well. For example, while plaintiffs will often need to file lawsuits in state court and then have their cases transferred into an MDL proceeding, the judge presiding over the Depo-Provera MDL has stated that plaintiffs can file their lawsuits directly in the Northern District of Florida. With offices in Tallahassee, our lawyers are available to represent clients nationwide in Depo-Provera lawsuits against Pfizer Inc.

Additionally, on March 29, 2025, the judge issued an order that will make it much easier for many women and families to pursue Depo-Provera claims against Pfizer Inc. This order makes it easier for plaintiffs to collect the documentation they need to prove their claims, particularly when they (or their loved one’s) received Depo-Provera injections years or decades ago.

Importantly, however, this order also establishes some additional filing requirements. For example, the order states that plaintiffs must file a “Plaintiff Proof of Use/Injury Questionnaire” within 120 days of filing their lawsuits. Since failing to meet these types of filing requirements can result in plaintiffs’ lawsuits being dismissed, it is imperative that all potential plaintiffs engage an experienced attorney to represent them throughout the litigation process.

While the Depo-Provera MDL still has a long way to go, it is moving forward, and the judge who has been assigned to the MDL appears to be interested in resolving plaintiffs’ claims as efficiently as possible. If you have questions about joining the MDL and fighting to hold Pfizer Inc. accountable, we encourage you to speak with an attorney at Searcy Denney about filing a Depo-Provera lawsuit today.

Understanding Intracranial Meningioma and Its Warning Signs

Intracranial meningioma is a serious and potentially fatal form of brain cancer. A patient’s prognosis depends highly on the “grade” of his or her tumor at the time of its discovery. As the Cleveland Clinic explains, meningioma tumors can be classified as:

• Grade I – The tumor is slow-growing and benign at the time of discovery.
• Grade II – The tumor is still benign but is growing more rapidly and is more resistant to treatment.
• Grade III – The tumor is malignant and already spreading quickly at the time of discovery.

As the Cleveland Clinic goes on to explain, even when a meningioma tumor is benign—meaning that it is noncancerous—it can still present serious risks: “[I]f [a benign tumor] grows large enough, it can press on important nerves and structures of your brain, which can cause harm and even be life-threatening.”

With a Grade I tumor, the five-year survival rate for meningioma is 95.7 percent (dropping to 90 percent after 10 years). However, with a Grade II tumor, the five-year survival rate drops to 81.8 percent, and the five-year survival rate for patients with malignant Grade III tumors is just 46.7 percent. As a result, this is potentially a very serious form of cancer, and prompt diagnosis and treatment can be critical for maximizing patients’ chances of survival.

With this in mind, anyone who has concerns about intracranial meningioma should not ignore them. This includes concerns due to early warning signs such as:

• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Hearing loss or impairment
• Hyperreflexia (overactive reflexes)
• Memory loss
• Muscle weakness
• Personality changes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures
• Vision loss or impairment

Like other types of cancer, treatment options for intracranial meningioma vary from patient to patient. Generally speaking, however, radiation therapy or chemotherapy can be used to treat intracranial meningioma in some cases, and in some cases, surgical removal of the tumor may be possible. These are all serious forms of treatment, and patients diagnosed with intracranial meningioma after taking Depo-Provera will need to work closely with their doctors to determine the best approach based on their individual circumstances.

Understanding the Link Between Intracranial Meningioma and Depo-Provera

The study linking Depo-Provera to an increased risk of intracranial meningioma specifically focused on patients who have used Pfizer Inc.’s contraceptive injection for at least one year. According to the study’s authors, women who have been using Depo-Provera for a year or longer are more than five times more likely to develop intracranial meningioma than the general population. This increased risk is significant, and it is more than enough to justify patients’ claims for financial compensation.

Who Can File Depo-Provera Product Liability Lawsuits?

With all of this in mind, who can file a Depo-Provera lawsuit? You may be eligible to hire a Depo-Provera lawsuit attorney to file a claim on your own or as part of a class against Pfizer Inc. if:

1. You (or a Loved One) Used Depo-Provera or Depo-SubQ Provera 104

Individuals who have used Depo-Provera or Depo-SubQ Provera may be eligible to file a lawsuit against Pfizer Inc. If you have lost a loved one to complications caused by one of these drugs, you may have a claim as well.

While the study discussed above found a link between Depo-Provera and intracranial meningioma when patients received injections for at least a year, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you (or your loved one) must have received multiple injections to file a claim. We are continuing to learn about the risks that Depo-Provera and Depo-SubQ Provera present, and there is no minimum number of shots that you (or your loved one) must have received in order for you to have a claim.

2. You (or a Loved One) was Diagnosed with Intracranial Meningioma After Using One of These Drugs

We are currently accepting cases on behalf of individuals and families who have claims involving intracranial meningioma. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with this form of cancer after receiving injections of Depo-Provera, Depo-SubQ Provera or a generic equivalent, we strongly recommend speaking with a lawyer about your legal rights.

3. You (or a Loved One) Received or is Planning to Receive Treatment

Due to the potential risks associated with intracranial meningioma, after receiving a diagnosis, obtaining appropriate treatment should be your first priority. Obtaining treatment, or showing that you have made plans to receive treatment, will be important for asserting your legal rights as well.

If you have lost a loved one to intracranial meningioma, your loved one’s medical records will be important evidence in support of your claim (as we discuss below). If your loved one’s diagnosis came too late to receive treatment, our Depo-Provera lawsuit attorney can still assist you with seeking to hold Pfizer Inc. accountable.

4. You Still Have Time to Take Legal Action

If you have grounds to file a Depo-Provera lawsuit, you must file your lawsuit before you run out of time. Generally speaking, the statute of limitations for these types of claims runs from the date of diagnosis. With this in mind, if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with intracranial meningioma after receiving Depo-Provera injections (or injections with Depo-SubQ Provera), we strongly recommend that you contact a lawyer as soon as possible, as you may be entitled to become part of the Depo-Provera lawsuits taking place.

5. You Have Not Already Settled a Depo-Provera Cancer Claim with Pfizer Inc.

When you have a claim for harm caused by a dangerous drug, you only have one chance to seek the financial compensation you deserve. With this in mind, you may no longer be eligible to file a Depo-Provera lawsuit if you have already settled a cancer claim with Pfizer Inc. But, if you have not accepted a settlement, then you should take appropriate legal action—and the first step is to talk to an experienced Depo-Provera attorney who knows how to assert your legal rights effectively.

Filing a Depo-Provera Intracranial Meningioma Claim Against Pfizer Inc.

Similar to other types of defective drug lawsuits, we anticipate that the Depo-Provera intracranial meningioma litigation against Pfizer Inc. will focus primarily on allegations of failure to identify and/or warn of the risks to users of its injectable contraceptive medication. Drug companies like Pfizer Inc., have a legal duty to ensure that their medications are reasonably safe; when they know (or should know) about serious health risks, they have a legal duty to disclose these risks to patients, healthcare providers and the general public.

At this stage, we are still working on uncovering what Pfizer Inc. knew—and when it knew it—about the link between Depo-Provera and users’ increased risk of intracranial meningioma. However, even if Pfizer Inc. didn’t withhold any material information, it can still be held liable for selling a dangerous and defective drug. This is based on the law of “strict liability” for defective products, which means that drug companies can be held liable without proof of negligence.

Hundreds of thousands of women in the United States use Depo-Provera as their primary means of contraception. As a result, as more women begin to learn about the link between Depo-Provera and intracranial meningioma, there is a high likelihood that we will see a substantial number of lawsuits filed against Pfizer Inc. If you have questions about filing a lawsuit, you should:

• Collect Your Medical Records – You should collect the medical records from your (or your loved one’s) Depo-Provera injections and intracranial meningioma diagnosis. However, if you have trouble locating any of these records, our team will be able to help.
• Start Documenting Your Costs – You should also start documenting the costs of your (or your loved one’s) intracranial meningioma diagnosis. Along with medical costs, this includes documenting your loss of income and all of the various ways that your (or your loved one’s) diagnosis has negatively impacted your daily life.
• Schedule a Free Consultation with a Depo-Provera Lawsuit Attorney – Filing a Depo-Provera lawsuit against Pfizer Inc. will start with putting an experienced lawyer on your side. You will want to schedule an initial consultation promptly. This consultation is completely free, and you should not have to pay anything unless your lawsuit is successful.

Contact a Depo-Provera Lawsuit Attorney for a Free Consultation Today

Do you have questions about filing a lawsuit against Pfizer Inc. for intracranial meningioma caused by Depo-Provera? If so, one of our Depo-Provera lawsuit attorneys can explain everything you need to know. To get started with a free, no-obligation consultation, call us at 800-780-8607 or tell us how we can help online today.