Depo-Provera

Depo-Provera’s Hidden Risks

Depo-Provera is a birth control shot given either into a muscle or just under the skin every three months. It was approved by the FDA in October 1992 to prevent pregnancy. There are two types of Depo-Provera shots: the 150 mg injection given into a muscle, and the Depo-SubQ Provera 104, a 104 mg injection given just under the skin, which was approved in 2004. Depo-Provera is manufactured by several companies, including Pfizer, Greenstone, LLC, Prasco, LLC (d/b/a Prasco Labs), Pharmacia & Upjohn Co. LLC, and Pharmacia LLC.

Depo-Provera has a black box warning that it shouldn’t be used for more than two years unless other birth control methods aren’t suitable, due to the risk of bone density loss. Despite this, it is sometimes prescribed for longer periods. While the U.S. label doesn’t mention it, the Canadian and European labels warn about a risk of meningioma, a benign tumor in the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Recent studies have shown that intramuscular Depo-Provera injections significantly increase the risk of developing meningioma.

Studies & Safety Concerns

For many years, it has been known that there is a link between the use of progesterone/progestin and the growth of meningiomas, which are tumors in the lining of the brain and spine. A study by Russell L. Griffin, titled “The Association between Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Exposure and Meningioma,” found that while oral MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate) did not increase the odds of developing meningiomas, the injectable form did. Specifically, the study showed a 53% increased risk of meningiomas with injectable MPA, with the risk being higher for cerebral meningiomas and increasing with longer use.

These findings align with previous research, which also indicates a stronger association between injectable MPA and meningiomas with prolonged use. Women should be cautious about using MPA for extended periods, and further research is needed to understand if long-term use affects the severity of meningiomas.

Another recent study also found that hormonal contraceptives, including DMPA (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate), significantly increase the risk of meningiomas, especially with use over 10 to 15 years or more.