Depot-Provera (depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate)

Chronicle

2025: Side Effect Detection - Brain Tumor Development

In early September 2025, American specialists from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic released the results of a study suggesting that a popular hormonal contraceptive for women - medroxyprogesterone acetate depot - may increase the risk of developing a brain tumor.

The named product is known under the trademark "Depot-Provera." This injectable drug is used as a contraceptive and for the treatment of endometriosis for a long period of time. In addition, "Depot-Provera" is used in the therapy of certain types of cancer.

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Фото: Freepik

However, an increased number of cases of meningioma were found among women who received injections of this drug. This is a tumor growing from the cells of the spider's brain. In the vast majority of cases, meningioma is a benign neoplasm, but there are also malignant variants. The main treatment method is surgical removal.

During the study, experts studied information about millions of patients for the period from December 2004 to December 2024. It turned out that the risk of diagnosis of meningioma in patients receiving the drug "Depot-Provera" is 143% higher than in those who were not injected. The incidence rate was respectively 7.39 per 100,000 patient-years versus 3.05.

In addition, scientists concluded that the risk of meningioma depends on the duration of depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy. So, when used for four to six years, the likelihood of a tumor increases by 200%, and with therapy over six years - by 290%. Another factor is age: at the beginning of therapy at 31-40 years, the risk increased by 277%, from 41 years to 50 years - by 175%, and over 50 years - by 220%.^[1]

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