Countless women use birth control as contraceptives across the nation. While many come with some, generally minor, side effects, many women have found that some forms of birth control can cause brain tumor symptoms.

Although no brain tumor is present, women suffer from similar side effects such as headaches, forgetfulness, and changes in vision. This condition is called pseudotumor cerebri and has caused women to file birth control lawsuits against multiple drug manufacturers.

About Pseudotumor Cerebri

Pseudotumor cerebri is a condition that mimics brain tumor symptoms. Instead of a tumor pressing on the brain, pseudotumor cerebri is caused when the cerebrospinal fluid is not properly reabsorbed into the body. Instead, the pressure around the brain increases and causes side effects that mimic a brain tumor.

Cerebrospinal fluid is produced naturally by the body and is used to protect the brain and the spinal cord. It is supposed to be reabsorbed back into the bloodstream.

The exact cause of pseudotumor cerebri is not known, but it has been claimed that it could be associated with birth control side effects.

Pseudotumor cerebri symptoms may include:

• Frequent headaches or migraines that may originate behind your eyes and worsen with eye movement
• Ringing in the ears that pulses in time with your heartbeat, creating a “whooshing” sound (pulsatile tinnitus)
• Feeling dizzy or nauseated
• Vomiting
• Blurred vision, double vision, blind spots
• Vision loss affecting one or both eyes
• Difficulty seeing to the side
• Seeing light flashes (photopsia)
• Neck stiffness
• Neck, shoulder or back pain
• Problems walking
• Forgetfulness
• Depression

Birth control side effects have been found in many common birth controls such as NuvaRing, Implanon, Mirena IUD, and more.

Pseudotumor cerebri can be diagnosed following one of three tests: an MRI or CT scan, spinal tap, or eye exam.

Birth Control Lawsuits

An individual may chose to file a birth control lawsuit after experiencing any side effect that was not adequately warned against on the warning label. Major drug manufacturers may be held liable for failing to inform women about the painful and even scary birth control side effects that could come with pseudotumor cerebri.

Women may be able to win compensation through birth control lawsuits for the pain and suffering caused by the pseudotumor, any medical treatment or doctors’ bills acquired for treatment or consultation, failure to warn, emotional stress, and more.

A birth control class action lawsuit investigation has been launched.