Depo-Provera Meningioma Lawsuit Update: MDL 3140, July 2026 Timeline
If You Used Depo-Provera and Were Diagnosed With Meningioma, Start With
the Timeline
A lot changed in the Depo-Provera litigation this summer, but the
starting point for a real person is still pretty basic: when were the
shots, and when was the meningioma found?
That is the question we would want answered first.
The federal court numbers are now large. The Judicial Panel on
Multidistrict Litigation’s July 1, 2026 pending MDL report lists MDL
3140, In re: Depo-Provera (Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate) Products
Liability Litigation, with 5,830 pending actions and 5,916 total
actions. The MDL is in the Northern District of Florida before Judge M.
Casey Rodgers.
Those numbers do not mean every Depo-Provera user has a case. They do
mean the litigation has moved well past the first handful of filings.
Families who have been sitting on records, or who only recently
connected an old birth-control shot with a meningioma diagnosis, should
not treat this as a rumor anymore.
What these cases are about
Depo-Provera is an injection given about every three months to prevent
pregnancy. The drug is medroxyprogesterone acetate. You may also see the
name shortened to DMPA in medical records.
The lawsuits generally allege that Pfizer and related defendants did not
give adequate warnings about the risk of meningioma after repeated or
long-term use.
A meningioma grows in the membranes around the brain and spinal cord.
Some are called benign. That word can be misleading for families,
because the tumor may still press on important structures. Some people
need surgery. Some need radiation. Some live with headaches, vision
changes, hearing issues, seizures, balance problems, or years of follow-
up scans.
The scheduler context for this update notes that Daubert hearings ran
June 24 through June 26, 2026, and that the first bellwether trial is
expected for December 7 through 14, 2026. Bellwether trials are test
cases. They do not decide everyone’s claim, but they can show how juries
respond to the evidence.
The science and the label
The public science record is one reason these claims are getting
attention.
EPI-PHARE summarized a French national study published in The BMJ in
- In that study, injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate was
associated with a higher risk of intracranial meningioma. The reported
odds ratio was 5.55, with a 95% confidence interval of 2.27 to 13.56.
The researchers said the excess risk was driven by prolonged use of one
year or more.
The U.S. label also matters. The FDA-hosted 2025 prescribing information
for Depo-Provera CI lists “Warnings and Precautions, Meningioma” as a
recent major change dated 12/2025. The warning says cases of meningiomas
have been reported after repeated administration of medroxyprogesterone
acetate, mainly with long-term use. It says patients should be monitored
for signs and symptoms of meningioma, and Depo-Provera CI should be
discontinued if a meningioma is diagnosed.
That does not prove any one person’s claim by itself. A lawsuit still
needs facts. Exposure, diagnosis, timing, medical history, and damages
all matter.
Records to gather before you call anyone
If this may apply to you, records will be more useful than a perfect
memory.
Try to collect:
- OB-GYN or clinic notes showing Depo-Provera, Depo-subQ Provera 104,
generic DMPA, or depot medroxyprogesterone acetate – Pharmacy records,
insurance claim histories, appointment ledgers, or injection logs –
MRI, CT, pathology, neurosurgery, oncology, or radiation records
confirming meningioma – Records showing treatment, follow-up imaging,
symptoms, surgery, radiation, recurrence, or work limits – A rough
timeline showing first injection, last injection, and the date the
tumor was first diagnosed
Do not panic if the records are scattered. Many people received shots at
more than one clinic, changed insurance, moved, or used Medicaid,
student health, military care, or county health departments. Old portals
may be closed, but records can often be requested directly.
Who should take a closer look
A review may make sense if someone used Depo-Provera or another DMPA
injection and later received a meningioma diagnosis. Longer use is
especially important because both the BMJ study summary and the U.S.
label discuss repeated or prolonged exposure.
Helpful details include the number of injections, whether the record
shows brand-name or generic medication, the diagnosis date, tumor
location, treatment, and whether there was a prior history of
meningioma.
If you do not know the exact number of shots, say that. A lawyer can
often start with a partial timeline and then request records.
Why timing matters now
MDL 3140 is active. Expert rulings, bellwether preparation, and case-
specific orders can all affect how the litigation develops. Separately,
every person has their own deadline issues. Those deadlines can depend
on the state, the diagnosis date, when the possible connection became
known, and other facts.
Waiting until a trial is underway can make the process harder. Doctors’
offices close. Insurance portals change. Imaging centers merge. Records
get archived.
If there is one practical step to take this week, it is this: make a
folder and start building the timeline.
Bottom line
The July 2026 Depo-Provera picture is serious. The MDL is large, the
label now includes a meningioma warning, and published research has
reported an increased risk with injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate
after prolonged use.
The strongest claims will usually come down to documents: proof of the
shots and proof of the meningioma.
Mass Tort America offers free case reviews for people who believe they
may have been affected. This article is attorney advertising and is for
general informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, and it
does not guarantee that anyone has a claim or will receive compensation.
If you have medical questions about Depo-Provera, meningioma, or whether
to stop or change medication, speak with a licensed healthcare
professional.
Sources checked: Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation pending MDL
reports as of July 1, 2026; FDA-hosted Depo-Provera CI and Depo-subQ
Provera 104 prescribing information revised in 2025; EPI-PHARE summary
of the BMJ 2024 progestogen and meningioma study; Lawsuit Information
Center July 2026 Depo-Provera litigation update.
