A recent wave of Depo-Provera shot lawsuit filings has emerged, with ongoing litigation focusing on the legal process, case developments, and potential settlement outcomes for those affected by Depo-Provera.
The Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuits allege that Pfizer, the contraceptive’s manufacturer, didn’t sufficiently warn consumers about the potential risk of meningioma brain tumors, even after a new study published in the British Medical Journal established a clear connection between long-term use of the birth control injectable and the development of meningioma brain tumors.
Most brain tumor lawsuits are expected to resolve via Depo-Provera meningioma settlements instead of going to trial. The negotiated settlement payouts will reflect medical treatment expenses, lost wages, and the overall impact on one’s life after the Depo-Provera injection.
Depo-Provera lawsuit settlements offer monetary compensation to women who developed brain tumors after prolonged usage of the Depo shot.
The Depo-Provera litigation is expected to grow rapidly as more women become aware of the potential risks associated with the drug.
Despite evidence linking Depo-Provera to brain tumors, the FDA has not required a meningioma warning for Depo-Provera.
What Is the Depo‑Provera Lawsuit About?
Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuits are product liability claims filed against Pfizer and other contraceptive manufacturers by women who were diagnosed with a brain or spinal tumor after using the injectable contraceptive. These claims are brought by Depo-Provera users who experienced serious health complications following use of the contraceptive injection Depo-Provera.
Depo-Provera contains the synthetic hormone medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). It’s a synthetic type of progestin, a hormone that prevents pregnancy by preventing ovulation, thinning the uterine lining, and thickening cervical mucus.
While it’s exceptionally effective in preventing pregnancy, scientific studies show that medroxyprogesterone acetate can cause meningioma brain tumors and other severe health complications. Prolonged Depo-Provera use has been linked to an increased risk of developing meningiomas and other serious side effects. Women who developed brain tumors after using Depo-Provera shots are taking legal action and filing claims against Pfizer and other drug manufacturers.
Pfizer Depo-Provera litigation alleges that the company knew or should have known that consumers were at an elevated risk of being diagnosed with meningiomas, especially after extended use of the birth control shot.
Symptoms of meningioma brain tumors include vision problems, headaches, seizures, and other adverse neurological problems. In the early stages, these symptoms often develop subtly, making early detection challenging. These symptoms can result in permanent impairment, severe disability, or fatal conditions. Treatment for meningioma tumors can result in serious side effects such as seizures, brain injury, cognitive impairment, depression, permanent disability, and even death.
Pfizer and other defendants have also been accused of downplaying or ignoring adverse event reports. Depo-Provera mass tort lawsuits allege that Pfizer and other defendants didn’t make timely updates to the birth control’s label, nor did they adequately warn the public about the potential dangers of their products. Instead, the claims say drug manufacturers ignored increasing evidence, prioritizing market share and profits over public safety.
The Science: Depo-Provera and Meningioma Brain Tumors
Recently, multiple scientific studies have found a possible direct connection between an elevated risk of developing meningioma brain tumors and the use of Depo-Provera.
A scientific study published in September 2025 has linked medroxyprogesterone acetate, the medication in FDA approved Depo-Provera, with a double increase in the risk of meningioma diagnosis. The risk was higher in women who used the birth control shot for over four years or began using the shot after age 31. These studies highlight the importance of evidence linking Depo-Provera to meningioma, as such evidence is critical in litigation and determining potential lawsuit settlements.
Another medical study published in 2024, based on French data, shows a five times increase in the risk of developing intracranial meningioma after long-term use of Depo-Provera contraceptive injection. The use of Depo-Provera for extended periods is a key factor in these findings.
However, medical professionals caution that these scientific studies are observational, which means they can’t definitively prove the injection caused the brain tumors.
Dr. David Raleigh, who is a radiation oncologist at the University of California San Francisco, says progesterone, a female sex hormone, is connected to meningioma tumors. Progestin, the female sex hormone in the birth control shot, is a synthetic version of progesterone. He adds that meningioma tumors are the only tumors that are more prevalent in women than men.
Still, he says that he isn’t saying that progesterone is the cause of meningioma tumors in women. He asserts that the available evidence suggests that the hormone simply fuels the fire. It didn’t necessarily start the fire, but the available evidence suggests it amplifies it.
Furthermore, he notes that recent medical research linking meningioma to Depo-Provera makes him pause. The emerging evidence amplifies these concerns about Depo-Provera and is central to ongoing product liability lawsuits, where evidence linking Depo Provera to adverse effects is crucial for plaintiffs.
In addition to brain tumor risks, bone density loss is a significant side effect associated with the use of Depo Provera. The FDA added a “black box” warning about bone density loss to the Depo-Provera label in 2004, recommending use for no longer than two years unless other contraceptive methods are inadequate. This warning has played a role in legal cases, and a previous class-action lawsuit in Canada regarding Depo-Provera’s bone density loss was settled for nearly $2 million.
There are also alternative, lower-dose formulations such as Depo-SubQ Provera 104, which achieve the same contraceptive efficacy with less hormone exposure. Ongoing research and litigation have raised questions about whether these lower-dose options could reduce health risks, and why Pfizer continued to use the higher 150 mg dose for decades.
Still, the risk of being diagnosed with meningioma is incredibly low: In the United States, only 39,000 meningioma cases are diagnosed every year.
The ACOG, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, responded to the British Medical Journal study, urging caution. It noted that according to the study, only five out of 10,000 women who used MPA may be diagnosed with meningioma tumors compared to one out of 10,000 women who didn’t use the drug.
While the risk is small, Robin Philip, a plaintiff who’s suing Pfizer after she was diagnosed with intracranial meningioma, says even this small risk would have been too much for her.
She says that if she had known from the start about the potential dangers of Depo-Provera, she would have never taken the birth control shot.
How Many Lawsuits Are Pending and What’s the Timeline?
Thousands of women taking Depo-Provera shots have been diagnosed with intracranial meningiomas (brain tumors) that have significantly affected the quality of their lives. These women say that they weren’t aware that a brain tumor was a potential side effect, and they’re filing Depo-Provera lawsuits against Pfizer and other defendants in both federal court and state courts.
As of December 2025, over 1,200 Depo-Provera lawsuits have been filed in federal court. These are individual cases, not part of a class action lawsuit. In a class action lawsuit, all plaintiffs are treated as a single group and share any settlement equally, which may not be suitable for cases with diverse injuries. Instead, these cases are consolidated in a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in federal court, allowing each plaintiff to maintain an individual claim while sharing pretrial resources.
The MDL for Depo-Provera is being overseen by Judge Casey Rodgers in the Northern District of Florida. As of November 2025, there were 1,225 lawsuits pending in the Depo-Provera MDL, and the number of lawsuits is expected to continue to grow as more women come forward. The litigation is moving forward at a relatively quick pace compared to other pharmaceutical injury cases, and early bellwether trials are expected to help shape the future of the lawsuits. The litigation process is being closely monitored, with regular case management conferences scheduled to keep the cases moving forward.
These Depo-Provera lawsuits are part of broader product liability litigation, as plaintiffs seek to hold Pfizer and other drugmakers accountable for failing to produce safer products or to warn doctors and patients about potential dangers. Handling Depo-Provera lawsuits requires legal expertise and experience, as attorneys must navigate complex case management and settlement processes.
The Depo-Provera lawsuit statute of limitations may be affected by the discovery rule and issues of fraudulent concealment, which can impact the deadlines for filing claims, especially in cases where scientific evidence linking Depo-Provera to health risks was delayed.
At a Case Management Conference held on October 27, 2025, Honorable Judge M. Casey Rodgers, who is presiding over the lawsuits pending in Depo-Provera multidistrict litigation (MDL) 3140, met with other judges from Delaware and New York state courts. The attorneys and judges held the conference to discuss ways to clarify and coordinate case issues to speed up Pfizer Depo-Provera litigation.
Those who were diagnosed with intracranial meningiomas after receiving Depo-Provera injections can still join the ongoing litigation.
Depo-Provera Settlement Amounts: What Are the Estimates and What’s Still Unknown
Currently, there are no Depo-Provera meningioma global settlements or large jury verdicts in the U.S. for ongoing meningioma-related lawsuits against Depo-Provera as of December 2025. Potential Depo-Provera settlement compensation will depend on factors such as the severity of your injuries, the length of time you received the injectable birth control, and when you used the Depo-Provera shot.
Depo-Provera settlement amounts are influenced by several key components, including medical expenses, emotional distress, and permanent disability. The most serious cases, such as those involving a life-threatening brain tumor diagnosis or permanent disability, may result in higher settlement offers.
It’s too early to estimate the average Depo-Provera meningioma settlement. However, some attorneys estimate a Depo shot settlement could range from $100,000 to $500,000 or more, based on similar drug injury cases.
In other lawsuits involving meningiomas, settlement payouts have averaged more than $800,000, and jury verdicts have exceeded $3 million. According to research published in the medical journal Neurosurgical Focus, the average meningioma trial verdict is $3.4 million. These jury verdicts can significantly exceed settlement amounts, especially in cases involving severe injuries.
Pharmaceutical companies have faced cases over several birth control methods. For instance, in 2020, Bayer agreed to settle over 90% of 39,000 Essure lawsuits for over $1.6 billion.
Additionally, Yaz and Yasmin claims concluded in reasonable settlement payouts for plaintiffs. Bayer settled over 10,000 lawsuits for blood clot injuries for $2.04 billion. The pharmaceutical company also agreed to pay $21.5 million for 7,200 cases of gallbladder complications. Moreover, the company also settled 1,200 lawsuits involving heart attacks and strokes for $56.9 million.
Who May Qualify for a Depo-Provera Claim?
To qualify to file a Depo-Provera lawsuit, claimants must have used Depo-Provera or an authorized generic version at least twice and have been diagnosed with a brain tumor after receiving the birth control shot.
You may not be entitled to receive Depo-Provera compensation if you took the birth control shot only once or if you were diagnosed with intracranial meningioma before your first shot.
Eligibility could also depend on how long ago you developed the brain tumor. Every state has a different deadline for pursuing compensation, so it is important to act promptly due to statutes of limitations.
To confirm if you have a valid claim, you need:
- Medical diagnosis: A diagnosis linking the birth control shot to your health condition.
- Lawyer consultation: Speak with an experienced attorney to examine your claim and understand your legal options.
- Evidence: Collect treatment notes, prescriptions, and all relevant medical documents to support your allegations. It is important for plaintiffs to keep all records related to their use of Depo-Provera and any medical treatments received for their conditions. Plaintiffs should also document all losses incurred as a result of their health issues, including medical expenses and lost wages, to support their claims.
What Do Plaintiffs Need to Do to Join the Lawsuit or Settlement?
There are many steps to take if you develop an intracranial meningioma after receiving a Depo-Provera injection. However, the legal process is complicated, so it’s crucial to hire a qualified attorney to guide you through every step. If you can, choose a law firm already experienced in handling Depo-Provera lawsuits to ensure the best possible outcome.
Steps to take if you want to join the ongoing Depo-Provera mass tort lawsuit:
- Consult with an experienced product liability attorney: Before joining the ongoing Depo-Provera MDL, you must consult with an attorney who has a proven track record in pharmaceutical claims. During the legal consultation, it’s vital to bring all documents related to your allegations, including your prescription history, medical records, and evidence of severe health complications or specific diagnoses.
- Determine whether you meet the eligibility requirements: During your case evaluation, your lawyer will help you establish if you meet the eligibility criteria for filing a claim. Requirements include that you were diagnosed with brain tumors or any other adverse health complication associated with Depo-Provera usage. To establish eligibility, it’s pivotal to have a detailed review of your medical history and give your lawyer the timeline of your birth control injections.
- Collect comprehensive evidence: Here are some crucial pieces of evidence you must have on hand if you want to join the Depo-Provera litigation:
- Oncology, neurosurgery, and pathology reports
- Radiology reports and imaging CDs confirming your brain tumor diagnosis
- Proof of lost income
- Disability documentation
- Records of prescriptions you’ve taken for your brain tumors
- Detailed journal of your symptoms, side effects, and noticeable impact of your condition on your health and daily life
- File a complaint: After gathering all the necessary evidence, your product liability lawyer will draft and file a claim against the manufacturers of Depo-Provera. The legal process for a Depo-Provera lawsuit typically involves filing a complaint, engaging in discovery, and potentially going to trial if a settlement is not reached.
- The primary defendant in this litigation is Pfizer, Inc., the maker of the defective birth control injection. Other defendants include associated companies like Prasco LLC, Viatris Inc., Pharmacia LLC, Greenstone LLC, A-S Medication Solutions, Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, and Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Your lawyer will also help you ensure your lawsuit is filed in the correct court. Additionally, they’ll ensure your legal complaint meets all requirements, deadlines, and statutes of limitations.
As of November 20, 2025, there are over 1,225 pending claims in MDL 3140. Each of these claims has been filed by women who were harmed by the toxic contraceptive.
Should You Act Now? Key Considerations and Deadlines
The timeline for filing a personal injury claim varies by state, from 1 year to several years, depending on the jurisdiction.
Typically, the statute of limitations starts from the time the brain tumor or any other severe side effect related to Depo-Provera is discovered or should have been reasonably discovered. A qualified attorney can help determine the specific timeframe for your lawsuit under state law.
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