In a new study, the contraceptive injection Depo-Provera was found to have a potential link to a heightened risk for brain tumors — specifically an increased the risk of intracranial meningioma — in some women. If you have suffered a brain tumor after taking this medication, you may be entitled to filing a Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuit, and Phillips Law Group can help you determine your legal options.
What is Depo-Provera?
Depo-Provera is the brand name for medroxyprogesterone acetate, a contraceptive injection containing the hormone progestin. It is administered as an injection every three months.
“Depo-Provera typically suppresses ovulation, keeping your ovaries from releasing an egg. It also thickens cervical mucus to keep sperm from reaching the egg,” the Mayo Clinic website reports.
Some potential side effects of using Depo-Provera include abdominal pain, bloating, depression, dizziness, headaches, irregular periods and breakthrough bleeding, weight gain, and more. On Pfizer’s website, an increased risk of developing brain or spinal tumors is not listed as a potential side effect of getting the injection, although it does note a possible increased risk of breast cancer compared to non-users.
Potential Increased Risk of Brain Tumors
According to a report in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), the use of Depo-Provera increased the risk of intracranial meningioma 5.6-fold if used for more than a year.
“In countries for which the use of medroxyprogesterone acetate for birth control is frequent [74 million users worldwide], the number of attributable meningiomas may be potentially high,” the study’s research team, led by a general practitioner and epidemiologist with French National Health Insurance in Saint-Denis, France, concluded.
Notably, menopausal hormone therapy drugs medrogestone and promegestone also increased the risk of intracranial meningiomas, which are benign intracranial tumors that develop in the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord.
In a statement, Pfizer said, “We are aware of this potential risk associated with long-term use of progestogens and, in collaboration with regulatory agencies, are in the process of updating product labels and patient information leaflets with appropriate wording.”
The alleged link to brain tumors and taking Depo-Provera is extremely serious, and if Pfizer did not adequately warn users about the potential risks, legal action may be appropriate. It’s important that patients are aware of any adverse risks of taking birth control medication such as these injections. Depo-Provera side effects long term could be devastating, and people who take the injections need to be aware of what those risks are.
Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Lawsuit Assistance
If you or a loved one suffered brain tumors or spinal tumors after taking Depo-Provera, Phillips Law Group may be able to assist you in pursuing legal action.
Our firm has been in business for more than 30 years and is a trusted voice in the Arizona community. Our team has outstanding experience in the area of defective and dangerous drug cases and we would be honored to advocate on your behalf in a Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuit.
Please contact our firm today for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation to discuss your rights and your legal options. We can determine the best next steps for you after going over the unique circumstances of your situation. Call 602-222-2222 now to learn more.
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