Many women who wish to prevent pregnancy but whose lifestyles make taking a birth control pill every day inconvenient choose to pursue other methods of contraception, such as Depo-Provera. While this birth control method is effective, some women are not aware of negative effects of birth control until it’s too late. One major side effect of birth control methods such as Depo-Provera is pseudotumor cerebri (PTC), which can be debilitating.

What is Depo-Provera?

Depo-Provera is an injectable contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy. Part of a class of medications called “progestins,” Depo-Provera works by preventing ovulation (the release of eggs from the ovaries), and by thinning the uterine lining. The FDA approved Depo-Provera in 1992.

Does Depo-Provera Cause Pseudotumor Cerebri?

Pseudotumor Cerebri 
or “PTC” is a condition may be caused by certain hormones found in birth control methods such as Depo-Provera, and is caused when pressure is applied to the brain by an overabundance of cerebrospinal fluid in the skull. In many cases, individuals with pseudotumor cerebri present symptoms very similar to those seen with a brain tumor.

The cause of PTC is generally not known, however, a common explanation is that PTC is caused by a problem with re-absorbing cerebrospinal fluid into the body.

Health experts also warn that birth control contraceptives, like Depo-Provera, are a possible risk factor for the disease. Symptoms of Pseudotumor Cerebri include:

• Headaches and Migraines: Almost every sufferer of PTC reports experiencing headaches. The headaches often have severe pulsing and throbbing characteristics. They may be associated with nausea and other problems.
• Problems with Vision: The second most common symptom reported due to PTC is vision problems. Often vision problems come in short intervals and can produce blurred or double vision.
• Ringing in Ears: A condition called tinnitus, or ringing of the ears, is a common symptom of PTC.
• Papilloedema: Is a condition noticed by doctors which signifies swelling in a patient’s optical nerve, it can be responsible for vision problems.
• Blindness: Although partial loss of sight occurs very frequently in those diagnosed with PTC, more severe blindness has been reported by some patients.

In many cases, patients with pseudotumor cerebri face a delayed diagnosis and worsening condition because symptoms can be confused for other illnesses.

Case Report Links Depo-Provera Use With PTC

The New England Journal of Medicine published a study in 1995 linking the condition to birth control contraceptives including pills and implants containing the levonorgestrel hormone. Birth control options containing levonorgestrel, for example, were associated with 56 cases of pseudotumor cerebri.

In December of 2012, a report funded by the U.K.’s Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare described a case report of a 23-year-old Depo-Provera user who developed pseudotumor cerebri. The woman’s only medication was Depo-Provera, which she had only been administered one dose of two months prior to being diagnosed with PTC. She discontinued treatment with the drug and recovered fully within four months.

Pseudotumor Cerebri Lawsuits

Pseudotumor cerebri is a serious condition that can have long-term effects. A pseudotumor cerebri birth control lawsuit can help seek and obtain compensation for present and future damages, including medical bills, pain and suffering and other damages caused by Depo-Provera use like pseudotumor cerebri.