Study links 5 more birth control drugs to brain tumor risk

Key Points:

• Women using Depo-Provera, a contraceptive containing synthetic progestin, face a significantly higher risk—about four times greater—of developing slow-growing brain tumors called meningiomas, according to a 25-year Danish study involving 3 million women.
• The study, published in JAMA Network Open, also identified smaller increased risks of meningiomas with five other hormonal birth control drugs, including combined oral contraceptives and the mini-pill, though the absolute risk remains low.
• The increased tumor risk persists only during use of these contraceptives and typically disappears within five years after stopping, emphasizing the importance of consulting healthcare providers before discontinuing birth control.
• Meningiomas are mostly benign but can cause serious neurological symptoms and often require surgery or radiation; women are affected more frequently than men, likely due to hormone influences.
• Pfizer faces hundreds of lawsuits alleging prior knowledge of Depo-Provera’s risks, highlighted by cases like Elizabeth Fleurisma’s, who suffered severe health issues after long-term use; the FDA approved updated labeling in December 2025 to warn about the potential link.