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Recent studies suggest a possible link between injectable contraceptives like Depo-Provera (Depo) shots and an increased risk of brain tumors. Scientists are urging caution as research continues.
Depo-Provera is the brand name for medroxyprogesterone acetate, a popular birth control shot that contains progestin. This is a synthetic hormone that mimics the reproductive hormone progesterone. The Depo shot is given once every three months. It works by stopping your ovaries from releasing eggs and thickening the mucus in your cervix, making it harder for sperm to reach an egg.
In a large study of around 500 meningioma cases, 88% of the tumors had progesterone receptors.The study looked at patients who had surgery for meningiomas at Tampere University Hospital between 1989 and 1999. Researchers used special antibodies to check for progesterone, estrogen, and androgen receptors in both new and recurring meningiomas. They tested 510 tumor samples, with 443 from primary cases and 67 from recurring tumors.
John Hopkins Medicine states that meningiomas are the most common type of primary brain tumor, making up around 30 percent of all cases. These tumors form in the meninges, the three layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain. They often grow slowly and can go undetected for years.Meningiomas are about three times more common in women than men. This makes it concerning that a widely used birth control method may potentially increase the risk of developing these tumors in women.
A French study published in 2024 looked at the effects of different types of progestogens, including medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera). Researchers analyzed over 18,000 cases of women who had meningioma surgery between 2009 and 2018 and compared them with tens of thousands of control cases. The results revealed a higher risk of developing an intracranial meningioma (the most common type of brain tumor) with long-term use of the drug.
As of 2019, 74 million women globally use injectable contraceptives. In the U.S., nearly one in four sexually active women have used Depo-Provera at some point, according to a 2023 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
After discovering the link between Depo-Provera and meningioma, patients have filed claims against drugmaker Pfizer. The lawsuits accuse the company of knowing about the risks associated with the drug and failing to provide sufficient warnings to patients and healthcare providers.
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