Depo Provera Lawsuit Guide: Latest Updates (2026)

Depo Provera MDL Update November 2025

The Depo-Provera MDL hasn’t yet progressed to the trial phase, but in the past few months, there’s still been a lot of activity around the case:

A Pivotal Preemption Hearing

For months, Pfizer has been trying to win the case on grounds of preemption. Specifically, it’s argued that it is not responsible because the FDA didn’t approve a label change warning about meningioma in 2024.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that Pfizer deliberately downplayed the meningioma risks and said the FDA rejected the warning label because it was vague and didn’t seem to be based on actual data.

On September 30, Judge Rodgers finally heard arguments from both sides on the preemption. Attorneys for the plaintiffs were confident that Pfizer hadn’t presented enough evidence to warrant a summary judgment, but Judge Rodgers has yet to issue a ruling.

A New Study Bolsters Plaintiffs’ Claims

Just like in many other MDLs involving dangerous drugs, there’s an ongoing debate over how dangerous Depo-Provera is. In September 2025, a study in JAMA Neurology found that long-term use of the shot dramatically increased meningioma risk. It’s not the only study to reach this conclusion, but it bolsters the plaintiffs’ arguments.

A New Defendant Is Added

In September 2025, a Depo-Provera lawsuit filed by a California woman named Kaiser Permanente as a defendant. The suit argued that Kaiser was partially responsible because (1) it claimed to have independently reviewed drug safety information and (2) it promoted Depo-Provera as a safe drug.

The Total Case Count Continues to Grow

As more plaintiffs hear about the mass tort and file their own lawsuits, the Depo-Provera MDL continues to grow. In August 2025, the total plaintiff count was 550. In September, it reached 800. By early October 2025, there were more than 1,222 total lawsuits.

Recent Depo-Provera Lawsuits

In April 2025, A Utah woman filed a lawsuit in the Depo-Provera MDL, alleging she developed intracranial meningiomas after using the contraceptive injection for over a decade. According to the complaint, she received Depo-Provera injections between 1996 and 2006 for contraception and menstrual regulation.

In 2007, she began experiencing severe headaches and migraines and was diagnosed with a meningioma. The tumor was removed in 2008. The plaintiff claims she only recently became aware of the connection between Depo-Provera and meningiomas, following new scientific studies published in late 2024

A Florida woman has also joined the MDL in April, alleging she developed hearing loss and tinnitus due to meningiomas linked to Depo-Provera injections received in the early 2000s. She began experiencing hearing loss symptoms in 2019, prompting medical evaluations that led to the discovery of a brain tumor.

New lawsuits have also emerged in Kentucky and Tennessee, with plaintiffs alleging that long-term Depo-Provera use led to multiple brain tumors requiring invasive surgeries.

Recent Scientific Study Linking Depo Provera to Brain Tumors

A 2024 study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) supports the recent lawsuits. Researchers found that women injected with the active ingredient in Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) over a prolonged period had a 5.6-times higher risk of developing intracranial meningiomas. This study is the latest in a growing body of research linking Depo Provera to the development of rare brain tumors.

European Warning Labels Highlight Depo Provera Risks

American women prescribed Depo-Provera were unaware of regulatory actions taken in Europe regarding progestogen medications and their potential link to rare brain tumors. The European Medicines Agency and UK health authorities updated Depo-Provera’s label to explicitly warn about meningioma risks. Likewise, lawsuits allege that the Canadian label for the drug also mentions meningiomas.

Crucially, Pfizer has not implemented similar warnings in the United States. This regulatory inconsistency has become a significant point of contention for American plaintiffs who allege they developed brain tumors after using the contraceptive.

Side Effects That Could Support a Depo Provera Lawsuit

Depo-Provera has known risks, such as headaches, anxiety and depression. It can also cause a loss in bone density. However, a recent study points to a more serious and potentially life-threatening side effect. Women who take Depo-Provera appear to have an increased risk of developing non-cancerous brain tumors.

Specifically, a study conducted in France found that women exposed to progestogens contained in Depo-Provera had an increased risk of developing a meningioma. These tumors do not grow on the brain. Instead, they develop in the meninges, producing the following symptoms:

• Headache
• Blurry vision
• Hearing loss
• Seizures
• Numbness or tingling
• Muscle weakness
• Poor coordination
• Slurred or impaired speech
• Amnesia

Most meningiomas are benign. This means they grow slowly and do not spread to other body systems. As a result, doctors have several treatment options, including surgery and radiation therapy. They may also choose not to treat the Depo-Provera brain tumor if its effects are minor.

However, a small percentage of meningioma cases are cancerous. The resulting brain tumors grow aggressively. However, the number of malignant meningiomas is low compared to how many people die from cancer each year.

Also, both benign and malignant meningioma can cause life-threatening symptoms if they press on major nerves or brain regions. The impairments and disabilities from meningioma can significantly reduce your quality of life. For example, you may need to change jobs and alter your activities when you suffer from a meningioma that causes seizures.

Depo Provera can also cause other side effects including reduced bone density, anxiety and depression. Unlike meningioma, Pfizer warns patients and doctors of these risks. No studies have revealed any connection to long-term or permanent infertility. Women typically recover their fertility within a few months after ending their treatments.

Depo-Provera Long-Term Side Effects

Depo-Provera puts you at risk of suffering from a number of health issues. It can lead to the development of osteoporosis, causing your bones to become thinner and more prone to breaking. The medication also appears to trigger mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety.

Long-term side effects also include a heightened risk of developing brain or breast cancer. This is a particular danger for younger women. Additionally, you’re more likely to suffer from blood clots if you use Depo-Provera. Cases like the GOLO lawsuit further highlight concerns about health claims made by manufacturers, where plaintiffs argue the company misled consumers by falsely marketing its supplements as "clinically proven" to aid in weight loss. Similarly, Depo-Provera users claim they were not properly warned about the potential for serious health complications, such as meningiomas.

Eligibility Criteria for Filing a Depo-Provera Lawsuit

To file a Depo-Provera lawsuit, you must have suffered injuries, such as a brain tumor, severe physical complications, or osteoporosis from its use. You only need to have used it twice to be eligible.

Other considerations will be how long ago you used the drug, the diagnosis you received, and other factors that can prove or disprove the proximate cause.

Statute of Limitations for Depo-Provera Lawsuits

Product liability claims all carry statutes of limitations, though the exact time you have can vary from state to state. Typically, the ticking clock will begin the moment that you discover the injuries you sustained since they take time to appear.

Because missing the statute of limitations results in being barred from recovering damages, it’s vital to get help from a product liability attorney as quickly as possible. They will be able to guide you through the process of filing a claim.

Depo Provera Settlement Amounts

It is very early to talk about a Depo Provera settlement. However, if cases ultimately prove liability for meningiomas, drug manufacturers may be liable for economic and non-economic losses suffered by victims.

Economic losses include past and future medical expenses, lost income and diminished future earnings. These losses may be significant because of the cost of brain surgery and the lengthy recovery time required.

Non-economic losses cover the ways the meningioma reduces the victim’s quality of life. These losses may include the pain, mental suffering and disabilities caused by a meningioma. Again, a victim could suffer significant non-economic losses because of how a brain tumor can alter their quality of life.

To avoid paying a huge damage award to each victim, drug manufacturers facing an MDL will often offer a global settlement. This settlement usually includes a large fund that pays victims preset amounts based on factors such as age, disease and prognosis. More seriously injured patients will be eligible to receive larger payouts. A similar way was used in the Zantac lawsuit settlements, where affected claimants got different compensation based on their health conditions and prognosis. These types of settlements help ensure that victims receive compensation in proportion to the severity of their injuries.

How to File a Depo-Provera Lawsuit

Before doing anything else, reach out to a lawyer who can help you understand whether you’re eligible to file a claim. They will also assist you in gathering evidence to demonstrate that you took Depo-Provera and have received a diagnosis of a related health issue.

Using all of this information, your lawyer will prepare and file the claim. The process will typically involve negotiating with insurance companies, which you should always allow your lawyer to handle.

Contact ConsumerShield for Assistance

If you believe your use of Depo-Provera has caused a benign or malignant meningioma, you should speak to an attorney about your options. ConsumerShield provides lawyer referrals to people who need legal advice and representation. Contact us to schedule a free case evaluation.