Depo-Provera was the convenient choice. Four injections a year, no daily pill, no device. For decades it was recommended to women who wanted reliable contraception without thinking about it — teenagers, new mothers, women managing endometriosis or heavy periods. Many stayed on it for five, ten, fifteen years.
Then, in March 2024, a large French study published in the BMJ found that women who used injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate for more than a year had roughly five and a half times the risk of intracranial meningioma. In December 2025, the FDA added a meningioma warning to the U.S. label. By then, thousands of women already knew.
How women describe it
Symptoms dismissed as something else. Persistent headaches attributed to stress. Blurred or double vision blamed on screens. Hearing loss on one side, memory lapses, personality changes — each explained away until they weren't.
The scan. An MRI showing a mass pressing on the brain. Meningiomas are usually benign, but "benign" describes cell type, not consequence. A tumor near the optic nerve or brainstem is dangerous regardless.
The treatment. Craniotomy for many — surgery through the skull. Radiation for others. Some tumors are monitored rather than removed, which means living with scans and uncertainty indefinitely.
Every woman in this litigation asked the same question when she learned about the study: why didn't anyone tell me? European labels warned about meningioma risk years before the U.S. label did.
Direct2Attorney · Patient ResourceWhat the lawsuits say
What women were told
U.S. labeling before December 2025- Bone density loss with long-term use
- Weight gain and mood changes
- Delayed return of fertility
- No mention of meningioma
What plaintiffs allege Pfizer knew
Contested by Pfizer- Meningiomas carry progesterone receptors
- Case reports and studies dating back years
- European regulators required warnings earlier
- A safer, lower-dose formulation existed
The part women emphasize
The life interrupted. Time off work for surgery and recovery. Driving restrictions. The fear at every follow-up scan. Some describe cognitive changes that never fully resolved. And many describe anger at having made a health decision without the information other countries’ patients had.
What this means if you're considering a claim
In June 2026, Pfizer and plaintiffs’ leadership reached a global settlement in principle for eligible claims in the federal MDL. Terms have not been announced, and the deal covers eligible cases — which makes filing status matter. If you used Depo-Provera for a year or more and were diagnosed with a meningioma, a free review can determine whether you fit and how the settlement process may apply.
Used Depo-Provera and diagnosed with a meningioma?
Free, confidential review. No upfront cost, no obligation.
Common Questions
Diagnosed meningiomas under surveillance are included in the litigation. Severity affects value, not eligibility.
Meningiomas grow slowly. Diagnoses years after use are common in filed cases.
Both contain medroxyprogesterone acetate. Product identification is part of case review; brand-name manufacturer claims are the core of the MDL.
No. The June 2026 agreement is in principle; payment terms and eligibility criteria are pending.
No. Direct2Attorney’s review is free, and participating law firms typically work on contingency, meaning fees are generally paid only if there is a recovery. Confirm fee terms in writing with the firm.
