Depo-Provera Injury Lawyers

Depo-Provera is a progestin-based type of hormonal birth control, as well as one of the most frequently prescribed contraceptives in the country. Nearly 25% of all sexually active women in the United States have taken Depo-Provera at some point. Depo-Provera is highly effective in preventing pregnancy, but it can also cause unexpected complications, some of which could be life-threatening.

You should not have to suffer from side effects that you never knew were possible. Here is what you need to know about Depo-Provera, its risks, and what you should do to reclaim your financial independence:

Depo-Provera Injectable Birth Control Shots

Depo-Provera is the brand name of an injectable shot of medroxyprogesterone acetate.

People who take Depo-Provera typically receive a shot every three months. Once Depo-Provera is inside the body, it introduces hormonal changes that prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs. In other words, when you take Depo-Provera, you don’t ovulate.

Aside from stopping ovulation, Depo-Provera can also thicken the mucus in your cervix, which acts as another barrier to sperm.

Depo-Provera Side Effects And Complications

Many women take Depo-Provera because it is among the most effective forms of birth control available. However, Depo-Provera’s popularity does not mean it is without problems. Some of the most frequently-reported side effects of taking Depo-Provera include:

1. Stomach aches;
2. Bloating or unwanted weight gain;
3. Decreased sex drive;
4. Cognitive symptoms, like feeling unusually nervous, weak, or tired; and
5. Depression.

Depo-Provera can cause more than short-term discomfort.

According to a study, women who take Depo-Provera for a year or more have a higher-than-average chance of being diagnosed with meningioma. Meningiomas are tumors that grow on the meningeal membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord and can put pressure on nearby brain, nerve, and vessel tracts.

Most meningiomas are benign, but your doctor may recommend surgery or other treatment. However, meningiomas require regular monitoring; if they continue to grow and put pressure on your nervous system, you could be seriously injured or killed. A relatively small portion of meningiomas—estimated at between 1% and 10%- will become malignant or cancerous.

Research indicates that women who use the injectable form of Depo-Provera are 5.6 times more likely to be diagnosed with meningiomas than women who do not use injectable birth control.

Your Legal Rights After A Depo-Provera Injury

Before doctors can prescribe medications like Depo-Provera, they’re typically required by law to inform you of the potential risks and side effects. For decades after its introduction, very few people—not even doctors—knew or even suspected that a common medication like Depo-Provera could be connected to meningiomas and cancer. Nobody, that is, except the same pharmaceutical companies manufacturing and selling Depo-Provera.

Since at least 1983, the medical community has suspected that Depo-Provera could be associated with meningioma. Later studies provided further evidence of a link. But instead of running tests, Pfizer ignored these findings. Most women who took or take Depo-Provera never have the opportunity to make an informed decision about their health.

Drug companies that fail to warn the public about known dangers could be held liable for resulting injuries. You could be entitled to compensation if:

1. You used Depo-Provera or Depo-SubQ Provera 104; AND
2. You have developed or been diagnosed with a meningioma.

If you have concerns about how Depo-Provera may have affected your body, contact a Depo-Provera injury lawyer today. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades helping New Yorkers fight for their rights. We know what it takes to build a compelling case for compensation, and we have the results to prove it. Please message us online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to schedule your 100% free consultation.