Schwaba Law Firm is now investigating and filing claims on behalf of individuals affected by Depo-Provera, a contraceptive injection recently linked to meningioma brain tumors. If you or a loved one used Depo-Provera and were later diagnosed with a meningioma brain tumor, you may be eligible for financial compensation.
Depo-Provera Birth Control
Depo-Provera is a hormonal birth control injection that is typically injected into the arm or buttocks every 12 weeks. Depo-Provera, through its active ingredient, medroxyprogesterone acetate, prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation and thickening cervical mucus. Depo-Provera has a long history of being denied approval by the FDA in the 1970’s and 1980’s due to concerns it caused cancer until it was finally approved in 1992. Recent case controlled studies have shown a distinct link that Depo-Provera causes brain cancer in the form of meningiomas.
Depo-Provera and the Link to Meningioma
Depo-Provera, a widely used birth control injection, has been linked to the development of meningioma brain tumors. Meningiomas are tumors that arise in the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Although these tumors are often labeled “benign,” they can severely disrupt lives and may require surgery, ongoing treatment, and long-term medical monitoring. Meningiomas are often diagnosed in three stages, with the first being a low grade tumor that involve slow growth tumors that may only need to be monitored if no loss of function or other symptoms are occurring. Grade 2 meningiomas have grown to a concerning size, need to be removed, often return after they are removed, and the meningiomas can result in seizures, headaches, confusion and other loss of function. Grade 3 tumors are malignant and often fast-growing tumors that should be removed immediately. Grade 3 tumors can manifest in severe loss of bodily functions including vision changes, loss of hearing or smell, confusion and seizures.
New scientific studies have uncovered an increased risk of meningiomas, which can grow silently and affect crucial brain functions, causing symptoms such as seizures, vision impairment, and cognitive difficulties. A study in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), Use of Progestogens and the Risk of Intracranial Meningioma: National Case-Control Study, published in March of 2024, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38537944/ reviewed information from the French National Health Data System of 108,366 women, 18,061 of whom had received intracranial surgery for meningioma between January of 2009 and December of 2018. Each case of meningioma was matched to five controls for their year of birth and area of residence. The study authors found that medroxyprogesterone acetate MPA, the acting ingredient of Depo Provera, was linked to an excess risk of meningioma.
A larger group of women in the United States was studied in a September 2024 article published by the Cancers publication, The Association Between Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Exposure and Meningioma, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39409982/. Taking information for a large commercial database, the authors reviewing ICD-10 codes identifying meningioma cases from hospital and pharmaceutical claims data of 117,503 meningioma cases and over one million matched controls. The study found that injected Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, the acting ingredient in Depo Provera, was associated with a 53% increased association with cerebral meningiomas, with the association becoming stronger the longer the duration of use of injections of Depo Provera.
Depo-Provera Lawsuit Updates
Depo-Provera lawsuits are being filed throughout the country, and consolidation of the cases into Multi-District Litigation is expected soon, allowing individual cases to proceed under a unified court structure. Our attorneys are committed to providing ongoing news and information regarding this emerging Depo-Provera litigation.
How Schwaba Law Firm Can Help
If you have taken Depo-Provera and have been diagnosed with meningioma, Schwaba Law Firm can help you with your legal claim. Cases like these may include claims for negligence, product liability, and punitive damages against the manufacturer, Pfizer. If you or a loved one has been affected by this product, please do not hesitate to contact our product liability attorneys.
