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Women Who Used Depo-Provera for More Than a Year Are Developing Brain Tumors — The FDA Now Warns It May Be the Shot

Depo-Provera is one of the most widely used birth control shots in the United States. Millions of women have received it — often starting in their teens or early twenties, sometimes for years at a time. But a growing body of research, and now an official FDA label update, has raised a serious question: can long-term use of Depo-Provera cause meningiomas — tumors that grow on the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord?

By Lawsuit Loop Editorial Team · Reviewed by TALF Legal · Published Apr 27, 2026 · 9 min read · Updated regularly
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Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate, or MPA) is a synthetic progestin — a lab-made version of the hormone progesterone — given as an injection every three months. It works by preventing ovulation and thickening cervical mucus so sperm can’t reach an egg. For decades, it was considered safe for long-term use. New research, and the FDA’s own conclusions, suggest that may not be entirely true for a subset of users.

A study published in the British Medical Journal in March 2024 found that women who used progestins — including medroxyprogesterone acetate — for more than one year had a substantially elevated risk of developing a meningioma. The risk grew with longer use. Women who used it for five or more years had significantly higher rates of intracranial meningioma than women who never used the drug. (Marcus et al., BMJ, March 2024.)

What Is a Meningioma?

A meningioma is a tumor that grows from the meninges — the layers of tissue that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Most meningiomas are benign (non-cancerous), but “benign” doesn’t mean harmless. Because the brain and skull leave almost no room to spare, even a slow-growing benign tumor can press on surrounding brain tissue, causing serious neurological symptoms and, in some cases, requiring brain surgery to remove.

Symptoms of a meningioma can include:

  • Headaches that worsen over time
  • Vision changes, including blurred or double vision
  • Hearing loss or ringing in the ears
  • Memory problems or confusion
  • Seizures
  • Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
  • Speech difficulties

Meningiomas can also be atypical (grade 2) or malignant (grade 3), which are more aggressive and more difficult to treat. Some women who developed meningiomas after long-term Depo-Provera use have required surgery, radiation, or both — at significant personal, financial, and health cost.

The FDA’s December 2025 Warning Update

In December 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration updated the labeling for Depo-Provera — the injectable contraceptive made by Pfizer — to include a warning about the risk of meningioma. This is a significant development: the FDA does not add warnings to drug labels unless it has concluded that the available evidence supports a causal relationship or a serious risk.

The updated label warns that long-term use of Depo-Provera has been associated with an increased risk of meningioma, and advises healthcare providers to discuss this risk with patients, particularly those who plan to use Depo-Provera for more than a year. (FDA drug label update, Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection, December 2025.)

Plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit allege that Pfizer knew, or should have known, about this risk long before the December 2025 label change — and that the company failed to adequately warn patients and physicians in time for patients to make fully informed decisions about their contraceptive care.

“Long-term use of Depo-Provera has been associated with an increased risk of meningioma.” FDA Depo-Provera label update, December 2025

The Federal Lawsuit: MDL in N.D. Florida

As lawsuits filed across the country began accumulating, a federal judicial panel consolidated them into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Northern District of Florida. The case is presided over by U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers, who has overseen several large pharmaceutical MDLs.

As of April 2026, more than 3,490 cases are pending in the MDL. Daubert motions — legal challenges to expert witnesses — are due May 29, 2026. The first trial is currently scheduled for December 2026. Bellwether trials in pharmaceutical MDLs typically give both sides and the court a realistic view of how juries respond to the evidence, and often lead to broader settlement negotiations in the months that follow.

The defendants in the MDL include Pfizer Inc. and Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, the entity that manufactured Depo-Provera.

Think You May Qualify?

Four injections or more, and a meningioma diagnosis — that’s the core of most cases.

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Who May Qualify

You may qualify if the following describe your situation:

  1. You used Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) for at least one year — that is, you received at least four quarterly injections.
  2. You were later diagnosed with a meningioma — a tumor on the membrane surrounding the brain or spinal cord.
  3. You were not already diagnosed with a meningioma before you started using Depo-Provera.

The strength of a case typically increases with longer duration of use. Women who used Depo-Provera for five or more years may have a particularly strong basis for a claim, based on the research published to date.

You do not need to have had brain surgery to qualify — though surgery, radiation, and other treatment may be relevant to the value of your case. A lawyer can evaluate your specific medical history at no charge.

What This Could Mean for You

If you qualify, you may be owed money for the medical costs of treating your meningioma — including surgery, radiation, medication, and follow-up care — as well as for lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses caused by the condition. We do not quote specific estimates for individual cases. Every case is different, and what a case may be worth depends on the specifics of your diagnosis, treatment, and circumstances.

Filing Deadline

There is a statute of limitations on these cases — a deadline to file. In many states, the clock starts from the date you were diagnosed with the meningioma, or from when you reasonably connected the diagnosis to Depo-Provera use. With the FDA’s December 2025 label update establishing a clear public link, that clock may have recently started for many women.

Don’t assume you’ve missed the deadline before checking. The free case review below takes about two minutes, and a lawyer can assess whether your timeline still allows you to file.

How the Process Works

Step 1 — Fill out the free form

No cost, no commitment. Takes about two minutes. A real person on our intake team reviews every submission.

Step 2 — A lawyer reviews your Depo-Provera use and diagnosis history

If it looks like you may qualify, someone will reach out. They’ll ask about how long you used Depo-Provera, when you were diagnosed, and what treatment you’ve needed.

Step 3 — Attorneys work on contingency

You pay nothing unless you win. If your case doesn’t recover money, you owe nothing — no upfront fees, no hourly charges.

Step 4 — Your case is filed

The law firm handles the legal work from here. Most clients never need to appear in a courtroom.

Common Questions

I only used Depo-Provera for a few months — do I qualify?

The research and most pending lawsuits focus on women who used Depo-Provera for at least one year (four or more injections). A shorter duration of use may not meet the threshold for most cases, but a lawyer can review your specific situation.

I had a meningioma removed years ago — is it too late to file?

Not necessarily. The statute of limitations depends on when you were diagnosed, your state, and when you reasonably connected your diagnosis to Depo-Provera. With the FDA’s December 2025 label update, many women are now making that connection for the first time. Fill out the free form and a lawyer can review your timeline.

My meningioma is benign — does that matter?

Most meningiomas are benign, but benign doesn’t mean harmless. The lawsuits are not limited to malignant tumors. Even a benign meningioma can require surgery, cause lasting neurological effects, and disrupt your life significantly. Your specific diagnosis and treatment history are what matters.

Can I file if I used a generic version of medroxyprogesterone acetate?

The lawsuits currently focus on branded Depo-Provera. Generic versions may present different legal questions. Mention this in your case review — a lawyer can assess whether your situation qualifies.

Does it matter that I also used other birth control methods?

Your complete contraceptive history is relevant context, but Depo-Provera use combined with a meningioma diagnosis is the primary qualifying factor. Fill out the form and describe your history — the review will sort it out.

Sources

  1. Marcus HJ, et al. “Use of progestogens and the risk of intracranial meningioma.” British Medical Journal. March 2024. BMJ 2024;384:e078078.
  2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) prescribing information and labeling update. December 2025. fda.gov.
  3. MDL Docket, In re: Depo-Provera (Medroxyprogesterone Acetate) Products Liability Litigation, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida (Judge M. Casey Rodgers). Accessed April 2026.
  4. Pfizer Inc. Depo-Provera product information and investor disclosures.
  5. “Depo-Provera Meningioma Lawsuits: What You Need to Know.” Drugwatch.com. Updated 2026.
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