Philadelphia Depo-Provera Injury Attorneys

Our Dedicated Team of Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers Fights for Those Who Developed Brain Tumors After Using Depo-Provera

Depo-Provera (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate or DMPA) was approved as a form of birth control in 1992. Since then, it has become a popular form of birth control. Depo-Provera may also be used to treat medical conditions like endometriosis.

Patients who use Depo-Provera typically receive an injection every three months. Many people choose Depo-Provera for the convenience of a periodic injection compared to other forms of birth control, such as a daily pill. 

Recently, however, studies have connected the use of Depo-Provera to the development of intracranial meningiomas, a family of brain tumors that can cause serious health issues. The risk increases for those who used Depo-Provera for more than a year. 

If you used Depo-Provera and are now fighting a brain tumor, talk to an experienced Philadelphia personal injury lawyer today. The skilled attorneys at MyPhillyLawyer can help. 

Understanding Meningioma Brain Tumors

Meningioma is the most common type of brain tumor. These tumors come in several forms. The specific issues they cause depend on where and how the meningioma forms, as well as which parts of the brain it affects. As a result, two patients who both have a meningioma can experience different symptoms. 

What is a Meningioma?

Meningioma is a type of brain tumor that begins in the “meninges,” or the layers of tissue between the skull and the brain. These layers of tissue protect the brain from direct contact with the skull. They form a cushion and protect the brain from bacteria and viruses. 

The meninges has three layers. The outer layer, or “dura mater,” is closest to the skull. The innermost layer,  or “pia mater,” is more delicate. The pia mater directly touches the brain. The middle layer, or “arachnoid matter,” is where most meningiomas start. 

Types of Meningioma Tumors

Meningioma tumors are typically named for where they are located in the skull. Common types of meningioma tumors include:

• Convexity meningiomas. These tumors cover the surface of the brain between the brain and skull. Approximately 20 percent of all diagnosed meningiomas are convexity meningiomas.
• Olfactory groove meningiomas. These meningiomas grow along the nerves connecting the brain and the nose. About 10 percent of meningioma cases are olfactory groove meningiomas.
• Posterior fossa meningiomas. Also called “petrous meningiomas,” these tumors form on the brain’s underside, instead of on the top like convexity meningiomas. About 10 percent of diagnosed meningiomas are posterior fossa or petrous meningiomas.
• Sphenoid wing meningiomas. These meningiomas develop behind the eyes. Approximately 20 percent of diagnosed meningioma tumors are sphenoid wing meningiomas. 

Most meningioma tumors are benign, meaning they are not cancerous. However, some can form cancerous cells, becoming “malignant.” Even benign tumors can re-form after removal. A meningioma that returns after it has been removed is called a “recurrent meningioma.” A recurrent meningioma may be similar to the original tumor, or it may turn cancerous. 

Not all meningiomas can be removed. Even when a tumor can be removed, surgery comes with risks. Patients and their doctors must work together to evaluate the risks and make decisions about surgery and health. 

Symptoms of Meningioma or Other Brain Tumors

The specific symptoms of meningiomas vary, depending on where they are located inside the skull. For example, many olfactory groove meningiomas are diagnosed after a person reports losing their sense of smell. Posterior fossa meningiomas may be diagnosed when they put pressure on the trigeminal nerve, causing intense pain. 

Common symptoms of a meningioma or other brain tumor include:

• Headaches
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Seizures
• Sensory problems, such as issues with sight, smell, or hearing
• Problems with speech or memory
• Weakness in the arms and legs 

These symptoms are linked to many other medical conditions, which can make a meningioma diagnosis challenging. Also, many meningiomas grow so slowly that a person may have one for many years without experiencing symptoms. 

What Is The Link Between Depo-Provera and Meningioma?

Studies suggesting a link between synthetic hormones like DMPA and meningioma have existed for many years. In 2024, a study published in BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) demonstrated a clear relationship between Depo-Provera use and meningioma.

The study followed 18,061 patients who needed meningioma surgery between 2009 and 2018 and who had also used synthetic hormones. Key findings included:

• Patients who used DMPA for more than one year developed meningioma at five times the rate of the control group. 
• 55.6 percent of meningiomas found in the study were located at the base of the skull (posterior fossa meningiomas). 
• About 92 percent of meningiomas studied were benign, while 2 percent were malignant and 5.8 percent were “atypical.” 
• Death rates for patients with benign meningiomas were more than twice as high as control patients – 2.8 percent of meningioma patients died within two years, compared to 1.2 percent of control patients. 
• For those with malignant meningiomas, death rates were even higher. 12.5 percent died within two years, and 20 percent died within five years. 

The researchers identified an “excess risk” of developing meningioma with the use of DMPA for more than one year. They stated that a link between synthetic progesterone use and meningioma tumors is “biologically plausible.” Over 60 percent of meningioma tumors in the study involved progesterone receptors in the brain. 

Previous studies have also shown a link between meningioma growth and progesterone levels. For instance, studies have found that during pregnancy, when progesterone levels are high, meningiomas tend to grow faster. When pregnancy ends and progesterone levels drop, the rate of meningioma growth slows as well. 

Lawsuits Involving Depo-Provera and Meningioma

In the US, all drug manufacturers have a duty to warn patients and medical providers about the risks of using a particular drug. All medications come with risks; patients and doctors must weigh the risks and benefits when choosing a treatment. 

Depo-Provera is manufactured by Pfizer. Cases against Pfizer argue that the company failed to warn consumers and medical professionals about the risk of meningioma associated with using synthetic progesterone. These cases argue that Pfizer was aware of the risks, yet failed to take steps to warn patients. 

Evidence that Pfizer may have known about Depo-Provera’s risks includes Pfizer’s decision to release a lower-dose version of Depo-Provera, called Depo-SubQ Provera 104. Many lawsuits will likely focus on this decision and what it reveals about Pfizer’s knowledge of the meningioma risks connected to DMPA.

Other qualifying products include authorized generic versions by Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, Greenstone LLC, A-S Medication Solutions, Prasco Laboratories, or Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. All of these products must have been taken at least twice to qualify.

An increasing number of lawsuits regarding Depo-Provera’s link to meningioma tumors were filed in 2024. In early 2025, many of these cases were consolidated into a mass tort action lawsuit known as a multidistrict litigation (MDL). A MDL action streamlines the litigation process for people who were injured by the same person or company in similar ways. Its goal is to take care of many similar claims at once, instead of forcing each injured person to go through the entire legal process independently. An experienced attorney can help you understand how a mass tort lawsuit might affect you. 

What To Do If You Developed a Brain Tumor After Using Depo-Provera

If you’re like most Depo-Provera users, you talked to your doctor about the risks and benefits before choosing Depo-Provera. If so, it can be devastating to learn that you were prevented from making an informed choice. 

Dealing with this knowledge on top of fighting a brain tumor can be daunting. It is important to speak to a skilled attorney who can help you understand your legal rights and fight for the compensation you deserve. 

When looking for an attorney, start with a free, confidential consultation. Ask questions about your specific case. Look for a lawyer who answers your questions in a way you understand. Also, ask attorneys about their payment agreements. Make sure you understand how your lawyer gets paid before you sign the paperwork. 

Before talking to an attorney, you can also help build your case and protect yourself by:

• Attend all of your doctor’s appointments. Stay on top of your medical care. Doing so will give you the best chance of maintaining your health. It will also create a record of your medical needs, which can help establish a claim for full, fair compensation. 
• Keep your paperwork in a safe place. Keep copies of notes from doctor’s appointments, medical bills and receipts, and other paperwork related to your medical condition and needs. This paperwork also helps establish your losses so you and your attorney can ensure you are fairly compensated. 
• Consider journaling. A journal or video diary of your experiences can also help you keep track of information and build a compensation claim. 

Battling a brain tumor is tough. Discovering that you are in this fight because you did not have the necessary information to protect your health is even tougher. 

You do not have to fight alone. Talk to the experienced Philadelphia brain tumor injury lawyers at MyPhillyLawyer today. We work on contingency, so we do not get paid unless we win your case and you personally never have any financial obligation at all. To learn more, contact us today to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.