Depo Provera Brain Tumor

Depo Provera Increases Risk of Brain Tumors

Depo Provera, commonly known as the birth control injection, is the subject of a comprehensive new study out of France that links use of Depo Provera to a heightened risk of brain tumors known as meningiomas. Meningiomas are typically slow-growing tumors that form in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, which typically require brain surgery and/or radiation to treat, both of which carry their own host of life-threatening risks and dangers.

While the reasons behind the Depo Provera brain tumor link are as yet unclear, researchers found that using a high-progestin hormone treatment like Depo Provera or a generic alternative for at least a year results in a fivefold increase in meningioma. Attorneys handling depo provera brain tumor lawsuits believe persons and the family members of persons who have been diagnosed with meningioma after using Depo Provera for at least a year may be eligible for significant compensation. This page provides a comprehensive look at what medical researchers know about Depo Provera brain tumors.

Depo Provera Birth Control Injection

Depo Provera, or medroxyprogesterone acetate, is a contraceptive injection administered every three months to prevent pregnancy. It contains a synthetic form of the hormone progestin, which works by inhibiting ovulation, thickening cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching the egg, and thinning the uterine lining to prevent implantation. This method of birth control is popular among women seeking a long-acting, reversible contraceptive option that does not require daily administration.

Depo Provera was first developed by Upjohn Co. in 1959, and was initially approved by the FDA as a contraceptive in 1992. Today, Depo Provera is marketed by Pfizer, the pharmaceutical giant that exceeded 58 billion revenues in 2023. There are also many generic versions of Depo Provera available. More than one in five women have used Depo Provera or a generic in the United States, and the birth control injection is used by 74 million worldwide.

Two other drugs, medrogestone and promegestone, also deliver a high dose of progestin and are used to manage conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and in hormone replacement therapy during menopause.

Depo Provera and Brain Tumors

While Depo Provera is generally considered safe and effective for most women, concerns have been raised regarding its potential side effects and long-term health risks. One area of concern is the possible association between Depo Provera use and an increased risk of developing meningiomas, a type of brain tumor.

In addition to Depo Provera, there are two other drugs that contain high doses of progestin and also increase the risk of brain tumors. Used to treat maladies including endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and in hormone replacement treatment during menopause, both medrogestone and promegestone have been found to increase the risk of meningioma brain tumors.

In most cases, meningiomas are not cancerous, yet it is misleading to use the word "benign" to describe these brain tumors. A diagnosis of meningioma carries with it numerous significant dangers and risks. Located in the lining of the brain and spinal cord, treatment of meningioma brain tumors often includes brain surgery and sometimes radiation. Risks of neurosurgery include seizures, brain damage, and other long-term repercussions. Even for patients whose initial treatment is successful, Depo Provera brain tumors can return again.

Depo Provera, medrogestone and promegestone have all been linked to an increased risk for a specific type of brain tumor called meningioma. Meningiomas are the most common type of primary brain tumor, accounting for approximately one-third of all brain tumors. They are more common in women than in men, leading researchers to investigate potential hormonal influences on their growth. In addition, progesterone hormone receptors have been found in more than 60% of meningiomas, leading researchers to suggest a possible link between the hormone and brain tumor development.

The drug inserts for medrogestone, promegestone, and Depo Provera do not contain brain tumor warnings. Symptoms of meningioma brain tumors include change in vision, hearing loss / ringing in the ears, loss of smell, headaches, memory loss, seizures, and weakened arms or legs.

Depo Provera Meningioma Research

While researchers have suggested a possible link between Depo Provera use and the development of meningiomas for some time, an exhaustive study was published in the British Medical Journal in 2024 that makes the correlation clear. The Depo Provera brain tumor study was conducted in France over a ten year span, tracking 108,366 women. Of these, 18,061 had confirmed cases of meningioma brain tumors. Among those, researchers looked for patients who had used Depo Provera in the year prior to diagnosis and found that use of Depo Provera made women 5.6 times more likely to develop a meningioma brain tumor.

In 2023, Depo Provera brain tumor research conducted at the University of Pittsburgh was published in the Journal of Neurological Surgery. In this small-scale study, researchers concluded, "There appears to be a clear progestin meningioma syndrome associated with chronic DMPA (Depo Provera) use."

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Depo Provera Brain Tumor Lawsuits

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