A growing number of women are learning that their contraceptive choice carries hidden risks. Injectable birth control, promoted for decades as safe and convenient, is now being tied to serious brain tumors. What makes this issue even more urgent is that millions of women have relied on these shots worldwide, often unaware of the dangers.
Stories from patients and mounting evidence from international research are sounding the alarm. Women who trusted that their birth control protected their health are instead facing devastating diagnoses, life-altering surgeries, and long-term neurological complications. At the same time, health authorities in countries like Canada and those in the European Union have already issued warnings, while women in the U.S. remain largely uninformed.
This gap in awareness raises a key question: how long have these risks been known, and why are American women still left in the dark? The answers begin to emerge when looking at the most recent research linking injectable synthetic hormones to brain tumor growth.
Hormone Shots and Brain Tumor Risk Uncovered
Research published in JAMA Neurology investigated whether depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), a common injectable contraceptive widely known by the brand name Depo-Provera, influences the risk of developing meningioma, a tumor that grows in the protective layers of the brain and spinal cord.1 The study analyzed millions of electronic health records from 68 health care organizations across the U.S.
• Findings show a sharp rise in risk with long-term use — According to the data, women who used DMPA had more than twice the risk of developing meningioma compared with women who did not use this contraceptive. The study emphasized that duration of use mattered greatly. Those with more than four years of exposure had significantly higher risks compared to short-term users.
• Age at first use shaped outcomes dramatically — Women who began injections between ages 31 and 40 faced a 277% higher risk of meningioma compared to non-users, those starting at 41 to 50 had a 175% higher risk, and women who initiated after 50 saw a 220% increase.2 These findings show that the timing of exposure plays a role alongside duration of use.
• Other contraceptive methods showed striking differences — Oral forms of medroxyprogesterone acetate carried only a smaller increase in risk, while contraceptives like intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants did not show any link to higher tumor rates.
• Hormone sensitivity of tumors — Meningiomas often express progesterone receptors, meaning they respond strongly to progesterone or synthetic forms of it like medroxyprogesterone acetate.3 This suggests that repeated hormone exposure could fuel tumor growth in susceptible women. By binding to progesterone receptors on meningioma cells, synthetic hormones act as a signal to grow and multiply.
• The findings help you personalize decisions — If you’re in your early 30s or planning to use contraception for many years, the findings provide strong evidence that injectable medroxyprogesterone carries added risk. Understanding how these risks differ based on age and duration of use empowers you to make safer, more informed health choices.
French Study Uncovers Striking Rise in Brain Tumor Risk from Hormone Shots
A national case-control study published in The BMJ examined whether long-term use of certain synthetic hormones, known as progestogens, increased the risk of requiring surgery for meningioma.4 Researchers analyzed medical records from data in the French National Health Data System, giving them access to one of the largest databases of hormone use and surgical outcomes.
The analysis compared 18,061 women who underwent surgery for meningioma with 90,305 control patients who did not have tumors. This large population allowed the researchers to identify patterns that would not be visible in smaller studies, particularly regarding long-term hormone use.
• Injectable medroxyprogesterone showed the highest risk increase among contraceptives — Women who used injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate for more than a year had more than five times the risk of undergoing meningioma surgery compared to women who never used it.
• Other hormones carried different levels of risk — Unlike the injectable form, natural progesterone, dydrogesterone, and levonorgestrel-releasing IUDs showed no link to meningioma surgery. This difference highlights that not all hormones are equal when it comes to brain tumor risk. The type of progestogen, its dose, and the delivery method all played a role.
• Duration of use was a key driver of harm — Short-term use did not trigger the same level of concern, but long-term exposure — especially over 12 months — caused a dramatic increase in surgical cases. The findings emphasize that the body responds differently to prolonged hormone exposure, which is critical for you to consider if you’re weighing contraceptive options for years rather than months.
Contraceptives and Glioma Risk in Younger Women
Research published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology examined the link between hormonal contraceptive use and glioma, a type of brain cancer that develops in the supportive cells of the brain.5 Unlike meningiomas, which are often benign, gliomas are aggressive and frequently life-threatening, making the findings especially important for younger women of childbearing age.
The study followed 317 cases of glioma and compared them with 2,126 control subjects who did not have brain cancer. By focusing on women in their reproductive years, the researchers were able to directly assess how long-term exposure to hormones influenced cancer risk in this age group.
• Use of hormonal contraceptives increased glioma risk significantly — Women who had ever used hormonal contraceptives showed a roughly 50% higher chance of developing glioma compared to those who never used them. For long-term users — defined as five years or more — the risk increased even further, reaching a nearly twofold difference.
• Progestin-only methods drove the greatest risk — When researchers looked at the type of contraceptive, they found that progestin-only methods had the strongest association with glioma. For women who relied exclusively on progestin-only contraceptives, the risk more than doubled compared to non-users. This means that the specific hormone in use, not just contraceptives in general, played a role.
Women Left in the Dark While Risks Mount
ABC News highlighted how American women have used Depo-Provera without being told it’s tied to brain tumor risks.6 Despite being approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992 and given to more than 30 million women worldwide, its U.S. label still does not include a warning for meningioma, even as cases climb.
• Personal stories reveal the devastating impact — Randi Hickman was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2020 after suffering dizzy spells and high blood pressure. She underwent life-altering surgery that left her with chronic pain, ocular seizures, and constant ringing in her ears. Hickman later discovered the link between her contraceptive and her tumor, saying, “I would’ve never thought that me taking something to prevent a pregnancy would cause me to have a brain tumor.”
• Data show an alarming rise in tumor cases — ABC News found FDA “Adverse Event” reports linked to Depo-Provera meningiomas skyrocketed — from just two cases in 2023 to more than 100 already labeled “serious” in 2025. Canadian health authorities and European regulators responded with clear label warnings, while the FDA has not required the same level of transparency in the U.S.
• Experts criticize the lack of warnings for American women — Attorney Ellen Relkin, who has represented thousands of women harmed by medical drugs, accused Pfizer of deliberately underplaying the risks. She explained that while Pfizer claims the FDA rejected its proposed warning label, the company could have still issued stronger warnings without agency approval. Relkin described this tactic as a “get out of jail free card” for the drugmaker.
• Global differences highlight the lack of U.S. protections — Canada now requires Depo-Provera labels to state, “Meningiomas have been reported,” while the European Union advises monitoring women on the injection for tumor symptoms. In contrast, the U.S. warning label only mentions bone density loss, leaving women uninformed about brain tumor risks.
• Women call for transparency and accountability — Hickman, still living with the aftereffects of surgery, expressed what many women feel: “We deserve better than this. We deserve to know what we are putting in our bodies.” Her story underscores the urgent need for American women to be given the same warnings already provided in other countries.
Practical Steps to Protect Your Brain from Hormonal Contraceptives
If you’re concerned about the risks tied to hormonal contraceptives, you have safer, drug-free options. The studies show it’s the hormone exposure itself — especially synthetic progestins — that drives tumor growth. That means the best protection comes from avoiding these drugs entirely and adopting natural strategies that give you reliable birth control and long-term health.
1. Choose non-hormonal birth control — Barrier methods like condoms or diaphragms and fertility awareness methods allow you to prevent pregnancy without altering your body’s hormone balance. These approaches remove the very risk factor driving tumor growth: synthetic hormones.
2. Use fertility awareness as a natural strategy — Learning to track your menstrual cycle — by monitoring basal body temperature, cervical mucus, or using digital fertility trackers — puts control back in your hands. This approach doesn’t rely on drugs and helps you understand your body better. Once you know your fertile window, you can plan around it with confidence.
3. Strengthen your body’s natural hormone balance — Diet and lifestyle directly shape how your body handles hormones. Ultraprocessed foods commonly contain vegetable oils, rich in polyunsaturated fats (PUFs) like linoleic acid, which mimic estrogen, contributing to estrogen dominance.
As a result, PUFs disrupt hormonal balance and mitochondrial function. With every meal, you are either feeding balance or feeding disruption, so eliminate vegetable oils and ultraprocessed meals and focus on whole foods instead.
4. Make your long-term health the priority — If you’re tempted to stick with the convenience of hormonal contraceptives, remember what’s at stake: your brain health. Tumors like meningiomas or gliomas steal independence, memory, and even life. By choosing non-hormonal strategies now, you protect your brain for decades to come and avoid the hidden dangers of synthetic hormones.
5. Use natural progesterone to restore balance — Depo-Provera contains only one hormone: medroxyprogesterone acetate. This is a type of progestin — a synthetic imitation of the natural hormone progesterone. While synthetic progestins like this are tied to an increased risk of brain tumors, natural progesterone is your body’s protective hormone.
It helps counter excess estrogen, calms your nervous system, steadies mood, supports thyroid health, and lowers cortisol. By avoiding synthetic progestins and restoring natural progesterone instead, you give your body the tools to recover its rhythm and strengthen long-term resilience.
FAQs About Injectable Birth Control and Brain Tumors
Q: What is the main concern with injectable birth control like Depo-Provera?
A: The primary concern is that Depo-Provera contains medroxyprogesterone acetate, a synthetic progestin linked to a higher risk of brain tumors, particularly meningiomas. Studies from the U.S. and Europe show that long-term use — especially beyond four years — significantly increases risk compared to non-users.
Q: How high is the risk of developing brain tumors from these injections?
A: Research shows risk rises sharply with prolonged use. One large U.S. study found women had more than twice the risk of developing meningiomas after extended use.7 A French study reported more than a fivefold increase in the risk of meningioma surgery for women who used injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate for over a year.8
Q: Are all types of birth control linked to brain tumor risk?
A: No. The strongest risks were tied to injectable synthetic progestins. Oral contraceptives showed smaller increases, while devices like copper IUDs and levonorgestrel IUDs did not show any elevated risk. This highlights that not all contraceptives affect the brain in the same way.
Q: Why are women in the U.S. not warned about these risks?
A: Unlike Canada and the European Union, which require labels warning of brain tumor risks, the U.S. FDA has not mandated similar warnings. Depo-Provera labels in the U.S. only mention bone density loss, leaving women without key safety information.
Q: What safer alternatives exist if I want to avoid synthetic hormones?
A: You can protect your brain by choosing non-hormonal methods such as condoms, diaphragms, or fertility awareness strategies. Supporting your hormone balance with whole foods, avoiding vegetable oils, and considering natural progesterone instead of synthetic progestins also helps restore your body’s natural rhythm and resilience.