Wondering if you qualify for a Depo-Provera lawsuit? The criteria aren't complicated, but they are specific.

The Three Requirements

First, you need to have actually used Depo-Provera—the injectable contraceptive administered every three months, whether brand name or generic depot medroxyprogesterone acetate. If you're not sure which birth control you used years ago, check with your doctor's office or request old medical records. The drug has a distinctive administration pattern (quarterly injections rather than daily pills) that usually shows up clearly in medical histories.

Second, you need a meningioma diagnosis. This is a specific type of tumor arising from the meninges—the membranes surrounding your brain or spinal cord. The diagnosis should be confirmed by MRI or CT imaging, and ideally by pathology if you had surgical removal. Other types of brain tumors don't qualify for this particular litigation because the scientific connection between progestins and tumor growth is specific to meningiomas and their hormone receptors.

Third, the timing needs to work. You used Depo-Provera before your meningioma was diagnosed. The longer and more consistently you used the drug, the stronger the causation argument becomes.

What Makes Cases Stronger

Extended use matters significantly. The studies showing increased meningioma risk focused on long-term users—women who received injections for a year or more, often much longer. Women who used Depo-Provera for five, ten, or fifteen years have stronger cases than those who received just a few injections before switching to another method.

Documentation matters because lawsuits run on evidence. Medical records, pharmacy records, and insurance claims proving your Depo-Provera history create a paper trail that's hard to dispute. Personal records like calendars or notes can help fill gaps, but formal documentation from healthcare providers and pharmacies is more persuasive.

Injury severity affects case value. Brain surgery, permanent neurological effects, and ongoing complications from your meningioma translate to higher damages. A woman who had a craniotomy with lasting cognitive deficits has a more valuable case than a woman whose small meningioma is being monitored without intervention—though both may have valid claims.

What Might Complicate Cases

Very brief use makes causation harder to establish. One or two injections over a few months provides much less hormone exposure than years of consistent use. That doesn't make a case impossible, but it makes the scientific argument weaker.

Lack of documentation creates challenges. If you can't prove Depo-Provera use through any records, building a case becomes difficult. Attorneys can help track down old medical records that you might think are lost, but they need something to work with. Memories of injections from twenty years ago, without any corroborating documentation, may not be enough.

Having a meningioma diagnosed before you started Depo-Provera complicates the causation picture, though it doesn't necessarily eliminate a claim. If you had a pre-existing meningioma that grew significantly during Depo-Provera use, or if you developed additional tumors while using the drug, there may still be an argument that the medication contributed to your harm.

What About Family Members?

If a loved one died from meningioma complications after using Depo-Provera, surviving family members may be able to file wrongful death claims on their behalf. Spouses, children, and sometimes parents can pursue these cases, seeking compensation for medical expenses before death, funeral costs, lost financial support, and loss of companionship.

Parents can file claims for children who used Depo-Provera and developed meningiomas. Statutes of limitations are often extended for minors, meaning there may be more time to file than in adult cases.

Not Sure? Ask

If you're uncertain whether you qualify, the simplest answer is to ask a lawyer. Consultations are free, and an experienced pharmaceutical litigation attorney can quickly assess whether your situation fits the litigation criteria. Many people who assume they don't qualify actually do—and occasionally the reverse is true. The only way to know is to have someone knowledgeable evaluate your specific circumstances.

What you shouldn't do is wait indefinitely. Statutes of limitations are real deadlines, and missing yours means losing your right to file regardless of how strong your case might have been. If you think you might qualify, have that conversation sooner rather than later.