Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC), a severe neurological disorder characterized by increased pressure on the brain, has been linked to the use of hormone-containing birth control pills or products.

PTC results from sudden increased pressure around the brain, and causes symptoms including headaches, blurred or double vision, ringing of the ears, and papilledema (swollen optic nerve).

About Pseudotumor Cerebri

Pseudotumor cerebri
 is characterized by intense pressure around the brain (intracranial pressure) that causes symptoms similar to those produced by a large brain tumor. The condition occurs when too much cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up in the brain, which may be caused by an increase in fluid production or decrease in fluid absorption.

PTC has also be referred to in medical literature as idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and benign intracranial hypertension (BIH).

This pressure causes symptoms including severe migraine headaches and visual problems, which, if left untreated, can lead to permanent blindness. There are two categories of pseudotumor cerebri:

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) – Occurs without apparent cause. This form develops most often with obese women in their reproductive years.

Secondary Intracranial Hypertension – Has an identifiable, causative agent, including hormonal birth control products.

Causes of Pseudotumor Cerebri

In 1995, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study linking pseudotumor cerebri with birth control pills and contraceptive implants containing the hormone levonorgestrel, such as Mirena birth control, with 56 cases of pseudotumor cerebri and optic disc edema.

Additionally, officials from the National Institute of Health (NIH) warn that birth control pills are a risk factor for pseudotumor cerebri. Case reports have linked the condition with exogenous estrogen, progestin-only implants, and birth control injections.

Hormone-containing birth control products that have been linked to the condition include:

• Mirena IUD
• Depo-Provera
• Ortho Evra

Pseudotumor Cerebri Treatment

Pseudotumor cerebri can be treated with a combination of prescription drugs and one or more of the following types of surgery:

Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap) – A needle is inserted between two lumbar bones (vertebrae) to remove excess cerebrospinal fluid.

Shunting Procedure – Relieves pressure from fluid buildup. Shunts have been shown to reverse the symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri, but long-term outcomes have not been investigated.

Optical Nerve Fenestration – When the patient’s vision is at risk, an optic nerve fenestration (also called an optic nerve sheath decompression) may be performed. During surgery, a small opening is made in the sheath around the optical nerve, which allows cerebrospinal fluid to drain behind the eye, relieving optical nerve swelling.

Brain Stent – A recent breakthrough procedure in which an expandable metal stent is attached to a catheter and guided through an opening in the groin, all the way to the main blood vessels in the neck and shoulders, where it drains fluid from the brain. The stent is positioned across the narrowed transverse sinus, where it expands, allowing blood to drain more freely and relieving fluid pressure in the brain.

Birth Control Pseudotumor Lawsuits

Birth control pills and birth control devices may put some individuals at a greater risk for developing pseudotumor cerebri. However, this risk wasn’t shared with consumers, according to allegations raised in numerous birth control lawsuits.

Were you diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) after using a hormonal birth control product? If you or a loved one developed PTC after using a birth control product, you should consider filing a birth control lawsuit to compensate you for your pain and suffering as well as medical expenses.