The story
Every three months, millions of women get the Depo-Provera shot — a convenient, long-acting birth control injection. It's been on the market since 1992 and is one of the most prescribed contraceptives in the world, especially popular among young women and women in underserved communities. Recent studies have found something alarming: women who use Depo-Provera for extended periods have a significantly higher risk of developing meningioma, a tumor that grows on the membranes surrounding the brain.
A major 2024 study found that long-term users had up to a five-fold increase in risk. Meningiomas can cause headaches, vision problems, seizures, and personality changes. While many are technically 'benign,' they often require brain surgery to remove — and some are life-threatening.
The lawsuits allege that Pfizer knew or should have known about this risk and failed to adequately warn women or their doctors. With roughly 25% of adult women in the US having used Depo-Provera at some point, the potential scope of this litigation is enormous.