Depo-Provera Lawsuit: Who Qualifies to File a Claim in 2026?

Overview: What the Lawsuit Is About

Depo-Provera is the brand name for medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) — a synthetic progestin administered as an intramuscular injection every three months. Since its FDA approval in 1992, it has been one of the most widely used contraceptive methods in the United States, with an estimated 1.5 to 2 million American women receiving it annually at its peak. Pfizer manufactures and markets both Depo-Provera CI (150mg/mL) and its lower-dose subcutaneous formulation, Depo-SubQ Provera 104 (104mg/0.65mL).

A meningioma is a tumor that arises from the meninges — the three layers of membrane that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Most meningiomas grow slowly and are classified as WHO Grade I (benign), but they can cause devastating symptoms as they press against brain tissue: debilitating headaches, vision loss, hearing loss, seizures, cognitive decline, personality changes, and paralysis. Roughly 20 to 25 percent of meningiomas are classified as WHO Grade II (atypical) or Grade III (malignant), and even Grade I tumors frequently require surgery that carries serious risks.

In March 2024, a landmark study published in The BMJ analyzed data from 108,366 French women and found that users of injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate for one or more years had 5.55 times the odds of developing a meningioma compared to non-users.^[1] The finding triggered a wave of litigation. In November 2025, a follow-up TriNetX study confirmed the association, reporting a 2.43x relative risk concentrated specifically in women who used the injection for four or more years and who were older than 31 at first use.^[2]

On December 17, 2025, the FDA approved a new meningioma warning for Depo-Provera CI and Depo-SubQ Provera 104, stating that meningioma cases have been reported following repeated administration, primarily with long-term use.^[3] Federal lawsuits were consolidated into MDL No. 3140 in the Northern District of Florida before Judge M. Casey Rodgers. As of April 5, 2026, 3,490 cases are pending in the MDL, with an additional 500 or more cases filed in state courts, for a total exceeding 4,000 active claims nationwide. The first bellwether trial — Blonski v. Pfizer Inc. — is scheduled for December 7–14, 2026.

Settlement projections from attorneys who litigate mass torts vary widely based on injury severity, but estimates for cases involving surgery generally range from $275,000 to $500,000 on average, with the most severe cases — those involving Grade II or III tumors, multiple surgeries, or permanent neurological deficits — potentially reaching $1.5 million or more. No global settlement has been announced as of April 2026.

The Core Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility for the Depo-Provera meningioma lawsuit rests on four primary requirements. Each is discussed in detail below.

1. Drug Requirement: The Injectable Form Only

The lawsuit is specifically about injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate. Qualifying products include:

• Depo-Provera CI — the standard intramuscular injection, 150mg/mL, administered every 3 months by a healthcare provider
• Depo-SubQ Provera 104 — the lower-dose subcutaneous injection, 104mg/0.65mL, also administered every 3 months
• Authorized generic medroxyprogesterone acetate injection — any generic version of the above formulations manufactured and sold under FDA authorization

This is a critical distinction. Many people assume that any hormonal contraceptive containing progestin falls within the lawsuit. That is incorrect. The following do NOT qualify:

• Oral MPA tablets (Provera, generic medroxyprogesterone pills) — these are taken by mouth and deliver a lower, non-sustained dose
• Hormonal IUDs (Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, Skyla) — these use levonorgestrel, an entirely different synthetic progestin
• Nexplanon implant — uses etonogestrel, not medroxyprogesterone
• Combined oral contraceptive pills — contain ethinyl estradiol plus a progestin, not injectable MPA
• The contraceptive patch (Xulane, Twirla) — uses norelgestromin/ethinyl estradiol
• The vaginal ring (NuvaRing, Annovera) — uses etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol or segesterone

The reason injectable MPA is the focus is pharmacological: when medroxyprogesterone acetate is injected at the 150mg dose, it creates sustained, high blood-serum concentrations of progestin for weeks. Oral MPA delivers a fraction of that systemic exposure. The meningioma studies that form the scientific foundation of this litigation studied specifically the injectable form.^[1]

If you are unsure which product you received, check your medical records, pharmacy records, or injection clinic records. Your records may say "Depo-Provera," "depo shot," "medroxyprogesterone acetate injection," or "DMPA" (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate) — all of these refer to the qualifying injectable product.

2. Duration Requirement: At Least 12 Months of Use

Most attorneys who handle Depo-Provera cases apply a minimum of 12 months of injectable MPA use as a threshold for case acceptance. Each Depo-Provera injection provides contraceptive coverage for approximately 3 months, so 12 months equals approximately 4 injections received consecutively.

In practice, this minimum threshold is increasingly being treated as a floor rather than a target. Here is how attorneys typically stratify case strength by duration:

The November 2025 TriNetX study is the key scientific reference for duration requirements. That study found a 2.43x relative risk overall, but the risk was concentrated in long-term users — particularly those with 4 or more years of use and those who were over 31 years old at first injection.^[2] Cases with 4+ years of use are therefore the clearest example of what plaintiff attorneys call "high-value" cases.

If you used Depo-Provera for several years but took breaks — for example, 2 years on, a year off, then 2 more years — attorneys will typically evaluate total cumulative exposure rather than a single uninterrupted stretch. Discuss your full injection history with an attorney before assuming your timeline does not qualify.

3. Diagnosis Requirement: Confirmed Intracranial Meningioma

To file a Depo-Provera lawsuit, you must have a confirmed diagnosis of an intracranial meningioma. The diagnosis must be supported by objective medical evidence — typically an MRI or CT scan with contrast, and/or a pathology report from a biopsy or surgical specimen.

All three WHO tumor grades qualify:

• WHO Grade I (benign meningioma) — the most common type; often slow-growing but can still require surgery and cause lasting harm due to its location. These cases qualify even without surgical intervention, though surgery significantly strengthens the case.
• WHO Grade II (atypical meningioma) — more aggressive, with higher recurrence rates; typically requires surgery and often radiation. These cases are considered high-value in litigation.
• WHO Grade III (anaplastic/malignant meningioma) — the most aggressive and rarest form; associated with the poorest prognosis. These cases are among the highest-value in the litigation.

Regarding location: the lawsuits primarily involve intracranial meningiomas (tumors within the skull). Spinal meningiomas — which arise from the meninges around the spinal cord — may also qualify and should be discussed with an attorney on a case-by-case basis.

Acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannomas) are a different type of tumor that arises from the nerve sheath of the eighth cranial nerve, not the meninges. They are generally not part of the Depo-Provera MDL and do not qualify under current case criteria.

Regarding timing: the meningioma diagnosis should generally have occurred after you began using Depo-Provera. However, attorneys evaluate the timing individually. If you were diagnosed while still using the drug, that is consistent with the case theory. If you were diagnosed shortly after stopping, that may also qualify — meningiomas can take years to become symptomatic or reach a detectable size even though the hormonal stimulus may have driven early growth.

4. Statute of Limitations: Your Legal Deadline

Personal injury lawsuits must be filed within a state-specific time window known as the statute of limitations. These deadlines range from 1 year (some states) to 6 years, with most states falling in the 2–3 year range. Missing your deadline permanently bars your claim regardless of how strong the facts are.

In pharmaceutical injury cases like this one, most states apply what is called the discovery rule — which starts the clock not from the date of exposure, but from the date you knew or reasonably should have known that your meningioma may have been caused by Depo-Provera. This is explained in greater detail in the Discovery Rule section below.

Because eligibility depends on your specific state's deadline and the circumstances of when you learned about the Depo-Provera meningioma connection, the only way to know for certain whether you are within the statute of limitations is to consult an attorney promptly. Do not assume you are "too late" without speaking with a qualified mass tort lawyer.

Who Does NOT Qualify

Being honest about who does not qualify is as important as explaining who does. Filing a claim without meeting the basic criteria wastes time and resources for everyone involved. The following categories of individuals generally do not have viable Depo-Provera meningioma claims:

What Strengthens Your Case

Within the universe of qualifying claimants, significant variation exists in case value. Attorneys evaluate the following factors when assessing how strong and how valuable a Depo-Provera meningioma case is:

Documentation to Gather

The sooner you begin collecting records, the better. Your attorney will ultimately take the lead on formal medical record requests, but starting the process yourself accelerates things and helps identify any gaps before they become problems. Here is what to gather:

In addition to medical records, gather documentation of economic losses: pay stubs, tax returns, employer letters confirming missed work, disability records, and any receipts for out-of-pocket medical expenses. These support the damages side of your claim.

How to Find Depo-Provera Records You've Lost

Many women received Depo-Provera injections years or even decades ago and no longer have any paperwork. This is common and manageable. Here is how to reconstruct your injection history:

Your HIPAA Right to Medical Records

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), you have the right to request copies of your medical records from any healthcare provider, including those who have retired or closed their practices. Providers must respond within 30 days. You can send a written request by mail, email (if the provider accepts it), or through a patient portal. There may be a reasonable copying fee, but providers cannot deny you access simply because of the cost.

Pharmacy Records

Major pharmacy chains typically retain prescription records for a minimum of 7 to 10 years (sometimes longer depending on state law). CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Walmart pharmacies can all be contacted for historical dispensing records. Independent pharmacies may have different retention policies. If you used a mail-order pharmacy through your insurance, contact that company directly. Note that if Depo-Provera was administered in a clinic setting rather than dispensed through a retail pharmacy, the prescription may appear only in the clinic's records rather than at a pharmacy.

Insurance Records

Contact your former health insurer or current insurer for explanation of benefits (EOB) records. These show claims billed by providers, including the procedure code and date of service for each Depo-Provera injection. Insurance companies typically retain claims records for 6 to 10 years. If you were covered by Medicaid or Medicare, those programs maintain detailed claims databases accessible through formal records requests.

Contacting Former Healthcare Providers

If you received injections from a clinic, Planned Parenthood, OB/GYN practice, or community health center that has since closed or relocated, records may still be obtainable. State medical boards can sometimes identify where records were transferred when a practice closed. Your state's Department of Health may also have resources for locating records from closed providers. Attorneys who handle mass tort cases routinely navigate these situations and have established processes for tracking down decades-old medical records.

What Happens After You Contact an Attorney

The process of filing a Depo-Provera claim is straightforward, and all reputable mass tort firms handle it on a contingency fee basis — meaning you pay nothing unless and until you recover compensation. Here is what the process looks like:

The Discovery Rule: "Am I Too Late to File?"

This is one of the most common concerns for potential claimants: "I was diagnosed with a meningioma several years ago. Is it too late to file?" For many people, the answer is no — because of how the discovery rule works in pharmaceutical injury cases.

The standard statute of limitations rule starts the clock on the date of injury — in this context, the date of your meningioma diagnosis. Under that approach, anyone diagnosed more than 2 or 3 years ago (depending on state) might appear to be outside the deadline. But the discovery rule modifies this in an important way: in most states, the clock starts when you knew, or reasonably should have known, both that you had an injury and that the injury may have been caused by Depo-Provera.

Here is why the discovery rule is particularly significant in this litigation:

• March 2024 — BMJ study published: The landmark French cohort study reporting a 5.55x meningioma odds ratio for injectable MPA users was the first major peer-reviewed evidence to establish this connection publicly. Before March 2024, no reasonable person receiving a meningioma diagnosis had scientific grounds to suspect Depo-Provera as a cause.
• December 17, 2025 — FDA meningioma warning: The FDA's formal label update confirming the meningioma risk for Depo-Provera is perhaps the clearest marker of public awareness. Under the discovery rule theory, the statute of limitations clock in many states may have begun to run only when the FDA warning was issued — meaning most claimants would have until late 2027 or 2028 or later, depending on state law.

Courts apply the discovery rule differently, and the specific dates that trigger it vary by jurisdiction. In some states, a single plaintiff's actual knowledge is what matters; in others, it is when a reasonable person in the same position would have discovered the connection. An experienced mass tort attorney can assess where your specific timeline falls and whether any additional tolling doctrines (such as the fraudulent concealment doctrine, which can apply if a manufacturer actively hid the risk) may further extend your deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions