Depo-Provera Lawsuits

What Is Depo-Provera?

Depo-Provera is the brand name for an injectable form of birth control containing medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone. It is manufactured by Pfizer and was first approved for contraceptive use in the United States in 1992, although MPA itself has been used for other indications since the late 1950s.

The drug is sold in two main injectable forms in the United States:

• Depo-Provera CI — a 150 mg intramuscular injection given every three months
• Depo-SubQ Provera 104 — a 104 mg subcutaneous injection given every three months

Beyond contraception, MPA-containing products have been prescribed for other indications, including the management of endometriosis-related pain. Depo-Provera is generally administered in a clinical setting, although Depo-SubQ Provera 104 may be administered in some self-injection contexts under medical guidance.

For broader background, see consumer product lawsuits, product liability lawsuits, and reproductive injuries linked to lawsuits.

Why Are People Filing Depo-Provera Lawsuits?

Depo-Provera lawsuits generally focus on what plaintiffs say Pfizer knew, when it knew it, and what it told U.S. patients and physicians. The central allegation is that Pfizer failed to warn American women about a possible association between long-term Depo-Provera use and meningioma brain tumors — even after regulators in other countries acted.

Plaintiffs in these lawsuits commonly allege that:

• Long-term, repeated exposure to MPA may be associated with an increased risk of intracranial meningioma.
• Scientific literature dating back decades raised questions about hormone exposure and meningioma development.
• Foreign regulators added meningioma warnings to Depo-Provera labels years before the FDA did.
• Patients in the United States were not given enough information to weigh the alleged risks against the benefits of the injection or to consider alternative contraceptive methods.
• Had they known of the alleged risks, some patients would have chosen a different form of birth control.

For broader context on this category of claim, see product liability lawsuits, mass torts, and current mass tort cases.

What Is a Meningioma?

A meningioma is a tumor that develops in the meninges — the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Most meningiomas are classified as non-cancerous (benign), but their location matters. Even a slow-growing, non-malignant tumor pressing on brain tissue can cause significant neurological symptoms and may require surgical removal, radiation, or long-term imaging.

Meningioma diagnosis typically involves imaging studies (commonly MRI), neurological evaluation, and in some cases biopsy or surgical pathology. Treatment may include observation, surgery, radiation therapy, or a combination, depending on factors like tumor size, location, and growth rate.

For related educational content, see neurological conditions linked to lawsuits, illnesses linked to lawsuits, and symptoms linked to lawsuits.

Scientific Research and Regulatory Attention

Researchers have studied possible relationships between hormone exposure and meningioma for decades. Some studies have suggested that certain progestogens — synthetic forms of progesterone — may be associated with an increased risk of meningioma, particularly with long-term or high-dose exposure. Several specific findings have shaped the current litigation:

• BMJ (March 2024) — Roland et al.: A national case-control study published in The BMJ using French national health data examined several progestogens and intracranial meningioma. The study reported an elevated odds ratio for meningioma requiring surgery among women with prolonged use of medroxyprogesterone acetate, with a roughly fivefold increased risk associated with use of one year or more.
• JAMA Neurology (2025): A separate population-based study reported an approximately twofold increased risk of meningioma among Depo-Provera users compared to women not using hormonal birth control, with risk patterns varying by age at first use and total duration of exposure.
• Cancers (2024) — Griffin: A U.S. analysis using Medicaid data reported an association between MPA exposure and cerebral meningioma, with the relationship strengthening with longer duration of use.
• Earlier literature: Case reports and smaller studies dating to the 1980s and 1990s raised questions about hormone-sensitive growth of meningiomas, including reports of tumor changes correlated with hormone exposure.

On the regulatory side, European and Canadian regulators added meningioma-related warnings to high-dose progestogen labels — including products related to MPA — between 2022 and 2024. The U.S. FDA initially declined a 2024 request to add a meningioma warning to MPA-containing products, citing the strength of the available observational evidence. After Pfizer resubmitted an amended application in June 2025, the FDA approved a label change in December 2025 for Depo-Provera CI and Depo-SubQ Provera 104. The updated label states, in part, that meningiomas have been reported following repeated administration of MPA, primarily with long-term use, and instructs clinicians to monitor for signs and symptoms of meningioma and to discontinue the drug if one is diagnosed.

The science continues to be debated. Pfizer has stated publicly that it stands behind the safety and efficacy of Depo-Provera and that the drug remains an important treatment option. The science around general causation — whether MPA can cause meningioma in humans — is one of the central issues now being litigated.

Who May Be Affected?

Most attorneys handling Depo-Provera meningioma cases describe broadly similar criteria when discussing whether someone may have a potential claim. These criteria are not a guarantee of eligibility and vary by firm, by state, and by the specific facts of the case.

• Documented use of Depo-Provera, Depo-SubQ Provera 104, or an authorized generic version of medroxyprogesterone acetate
• Use over a sustained period — many firms describe a threshold of approximately one year of repeated injections
• A confirmed diagnosis of intracranial meningioma, often supported by MRI or other imaging
• Medical treatment related to the diagnosis, which may include surgery, radiation, or ongoing monitoring
• Filing within the applicable statute of limitations, which varies significantly between states

Statute of limitations issues are particularly important and state-specific. Some states have very short windows; others have provisions tied to when the injury was discovered. A handful of states also have pharmaceutical immunity statutes or statutes of repose that affect how (and whether) claims can proceed. For more general background, see statute of limitations basics and do you qualify for a lawsuit?.

Depo-Provera Lawsuit Allegations

Depo-Provera lawsuits raise several overlapping product liability theories. The exact claims vary by state law and the facts of each case, but commonly include:

• Failure to warn: That Pfizer did not adequately warn U.S. patients and physicians about an alleged increased risk of meningioma associated with long-term use.
• Defective design: That a safer alternative design — such as the lower-dose subcutaneous formulation — was available and that the higher-dose intramuscular product was unreasonably dangerous as designed.
• Negligence: That Pfizer failed to use reasonable care in studying, testing, monitoring, or communicating risks associated with the drug.
• Consumer protection violations: That marketing or promotional materials misled patients about the safety profile of the injection.
• Negligent misrepresentation: That statements about the drug's safety did not adequately reflect what plaintiffs allege Pfizer should have known.

Pfizer has denied liability and is contesting these claims. The company has argued, among other things, that the FDA's earlier decision not to require a meningioma warning supports a federal preemption defense — essentially, that federal regulatory action shields the company from state-law failure-to-warn claims. The FDA's December 2025 reversal and approval of a meningioma warning has complicated that argument and is now being examined by the court. For background on how product liability claims are organized, see product liability lawsuits.

The Federal MDL and Current Case Status

In February 2025, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated federal Depo-Provera meningioma cases into MDL 3140 — In re: Depo-Provera (Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate) Products Liability Litigation. The MDL is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida before Judge M. Casey Rodgers, with Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon also assigned.

Key procedural developments include:

• February 2025: JPML consolidates federal Depo-Provera meningioma lawsuits into MDL 3140.
• December 2025: FDA approves a meningioma warning for Depo-Provera CI and Depo-SubQ Provera 104.
• January 2026: Judge Rodgers issues Pretrial Order No. 30, structuring how preemption and Daubert (expert evidence) rulings will apply across the MDL.
• Spring 2026: Expert depositions on general causation and supplemental briefing on Pfizer's preemption defense.
• Mid-2026: General causation hearings scheduled, where the court will evaluate whether plaintiffs' expert evidence linking Depo-Provera to meningioma is admissible at trial.
• December 2026: First bellwether trial currently set in the MDL.

Coordinated state court proceedings are also moving forward in jurisdictions including New York and Delaware. Bellwether outcomes are not binding on other cases, but they often influence settlement discussions and how juries weigh complex scientific evidence in later trials. For background on how multidistrict litigation works, see mass torts, MDL basics, and bellwether trials.

Records and Documentation People Often Gather

Whether or not someone ultimately decides to consult an attorney, the same set of records tends to come up in most Depo-Provera case reviews. Gathering them early can make any later conversation — with a doctor, an attorney, or a family member — easier.

• Pharmacy and prescription records: Documentation of Depo-Provera or MPA generic injections, ideally with dates and dosages
• Provider and clinic records: Office visit notes from the clinic that administered the injections
• Diagnosis records: Documentation of meningioma diagnosis, including pathology if available
• Imaging: MRI and other neuroimaging reports and (where possible) the underlying images
• Surgical records: Operative reports, hospital discharge summaries, and follow-up documentation if surgery was performed
• Treatment records: Radiation oncology records, neurology follow-ups, and any ongoing monitoring
• Timeline: A simple written timeline of when injections started, when symptoms began, and when the meningioma was diagnosed

For more on what evidence tends to matter in pharmaceutical cases, see what evidence helps a lawsuit? and what happens after you contact a lawyer?.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Depo-Provera?

Depo-Provera is an injectable contraceptive containing medroxyprogesterone acetate, a synthetic progestin. It is given roughly every three months by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection and is manufactured by Pfizer.

What is a meningioma?

A meningioma is a tumor that develops in the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Most meningiomas are non-cancerous, but they can still cause significant neurological symptoms depending on size and location.

How long do people typically use the injection?

Use varies. Some patients use Depo-Provera for less than a year; others have used it for many years or decades. Lawsuits typically focus on patients with prolonged or repeated exposure, often described as roughly one year or more of continuous use.

What symptoms are associated with meningioma?

Reported symptoms can include persistent headaches, seizures, vision or hearing changes, memory and cognitive problems, one-sided weakness, balance issues, and personality changes. Symptoms vary widely by tumor size and location and are not specific to meningioma. Anyone experiencing concerning neurological symptoms should consult a physician.

Are lawsuits already filed?

Yes. Thousands of cases are pending in the federal Depo-Provera MDL (MDL 3140) in the Northern District of Florida, with additional cases coordinated in state courts. The first bellwether trial is currently scheduled for December 2026.

Can people still use Depo-Provera safely?

Depo-Provera remains FDA-approved and continues to be prescribed. The FDA added a meningioma warning to the U.S. label in December 2025, advising clinicians to monitor for signs of meningioma and discontinue the drug if a meningioma is diagnosed. Anyone with concerns about whether the injection is appropriate for them should speak with their physician — this page does not provide medical advice.