Depo-Provera Lawsuits: Health Risks, Legal Claims, and the Sept. 29, 2025 Preemption Hearing
Last updated: September 15, 2025
Depo-Provera is an injectable contraceptive in widespread use since the 1990s. While effective at preventing pregnancy, a growing body of evidence has raised safety questions, including bone density loss, osteoporosis, potential links to breast cancer, and a possible association with meningioma.
Start a free case checkPreemption hearing on Pfizer’s motion to dismiss the MDL is set for September 29, 2025. The court’s ruling will influence whether failure-to-warn claims proceed.
See what’s at stakeWho’s affected, symptoms to watch, and how claims work—summarized below.
Bone density loss, osteoporosis, breast changes, and alleged meningioma risk.
Collect records, log symptoms, talk to your clinician, and consider legal options.
Reported Health Concerns
Medical literature and patient reports have associated Depo-Provera with several conditions:
- Loss of bone mineral density
- Elevated risk of osteoporosis and fractures
- Possible association with breast cancer
- Potential increased risk of meningioma (a typically benign brain tumor)
Who May Be Affected
Women who used Depo-Provera for contraception, particularly for extended periods, are the primary group. Families may also bear financial and emotional burdens related to diagnosis and care.
Symptoms and Harms
- Persistent bone pain; stress or fragility fractures
- Unexplained weight gain
- Menstrual changes
- Breast lumps or notable changes
- Neurological symptoms in suspected meningioma
Potential Claim Types
Costs of diagnosis, treatment, surgery, imaging, and follow-up care.
Missed work, reduced hours, or diminished earning capacity.
Physical pain and reduction in quality of life.
Anxiety, trauma, and related harms documented by providers.
In some cases, family members’ derivative claims may apply.
Case-specific categories vary by jurisdiction and facts.
This article is not legal advice; consult counsel about your situation.
Key Timeline
Preemption Hearing: What the Court Will Consider
Pfizer’s Position
- State-law failure-to-warn claims are preempted by federal law.
- In 2023, the company concluded a potential causal association with meningioma and sought FDA authorization to add a warning.
- Pfizer asserts the FDA declined; therefore, unilateral labeling was legally impossible.
Plaintiffs’ Position
- Pfizer allegedly withheld or failed to fully communicate critical safety information.
- Warnings to patients and prescribers were allegedly inadequate and untimely.
- Preemption should not bar state-law claims on these facts.
How the Judge Analyzes Preemption
Under Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. v. Albrecht, the preemption question is for the judge to decide. The court will likely examine:
- Scientific record: Strength and timing of evidence linking Depo-Provera to meningioma.
- Regulatory history: The substance of Pfizer–FDA communications and whether an FDA rejection made state-law compliance impossible.
- Case law: How similar pharmaceutical preemption rulings have been handled in other litigations.
What’s at Stake
If preemption applies, many failure-to-warn claims could be dismissed, reducing potential liability.
If preemption is denied, failure-to-warn claims proceed to discovery and case-specific adjudication.
Practical Next Steps if You Used Depo-Provera
Prescription history, imaging, labs, operative notes, and treating-provider reports.
Maintain a dated log tracking onset, severity, and impact on work and daily life.
Discuss evaluation, monitoring, and treatment options with a healthcare professional.
Speak with counsel familiar with pharmaceutical litigation and this MDL. Filing deadlines may apply.
FAQs
Is the MDL outcome decided?
No. Oral argument is set for September 29, 2025. A decision may follow; outcomes are uncertain.
Would a preemption ruling end all cases?
Not necessarily. The court could narrow or dismiss some theories while others proceed, depending on the order.
What evidence strengthens a claim?
Medical documentation linking use and injury, duration and timing of injections, physician notes, imaging, and diagnostic records.
Get Help Today
If you or a loved one experienced serious side effects after using Depo-Provera, you may have options. Begin with a quick, confidential review.
Nothing here constitutes medical or legal advice. Consult licensed professionals about your circumstances.