What is Depo-Provera?
- A hormone-based birth control injection (medroxyprogesterone acetate) administered every three months.
- Used by over 74 million women worldwide.
“Depo-Provera increases the risk of developing brain tumors called meningiomas by 5.6 times. These tumors can cause serious disability depending on their size and location. When they grow into critical neurological areas, they may result in hemiparesis, hydrocephalus, seizures, and cognitive decline.”
— Greg Vigna, MD, JD, national malpractice and product liability attorney, retired brain injury physician
Who Makes It?
What Did Pfizer Know—and When?
- 1980s: Research showed meningiomas have progesterone receptors. Depo-Provera binds to these receptors.
- 1950s: It was known that some meningiomas are hormone-sensitive.
- 2000s: Studies linked progesterone receptor-positive meningiomas to more favorable (benign) outcomes than aggressive tumors.
- 2007: These receptor-positive tumors were found to be less likely to recur after surgery.
What We Know Today
- Prolonged Depo-Provera use is linked to a significantly increased risk of intracranial meningiomas.
- Women using Depo-Provera face a 5.6-fold increased risk compared to non-users.
(Source: Roland et al., BMJ 2024)
