Women Deserve Answers: Help Us Call for an Independent UK Review
The Issue
Introduction
Across the UK, women and families are raising concerns about the potential association between Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) and meningioma, a type of tumour that develops in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Recent research has identified an association between prolonged exposure to medroxyprogesterone acetate and an increased risk of meningioma. Many women have also reported that they were unaware of this potential risk when receiving the contraceptive injection.
We believe these concerns deserve careful and independent consideration. This petition calls on the UK Government to commission an independent UK-wide review to examine the available evidence, patient experiences, prescribing practices, informed consent processes and long-term safety monitoring relating to Depo-Provera and meningioma.
Our aim is not to predetermine the outcome of any review, but to ensure that the evidence is assessed transparently and that women, families and healthcare professionals have access to clear and up-to-date information to support informed decision-making.
Open Letter
Our full open letter provides further detail about the concerns raised by women and families, our recommendations for an independent UK-wide review, and the scientific, regulatory and publicly reported evidence supporting this campaign.
Read the full Open Letter:
Open Letter - Depo Provera and Meningioma - UK Independent Review 071026.pdf
We encourage supporters, healthcare professionals, researchers, journalists, elected representatives and policymakers to read the full letter and consider the evidence, questions and recommendations it contains.
What We Are Asking for:
This petition seeks an independent UK-wide review to examine the available evidence, patient experiences and current safety arrangements relating to Depo-Provera and meningioma.
We call on the UK Government to commission an independent UK-wide review into the potential association between Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) and meningioma.
We believe further investigation is needed into the available evidence, patient experiences, prescribing practices, informed consent processes, and long-term safety monitoring. The review should consider whether current information provided to patients is sufficient and whether additional research, guidance, or regulatory action is required.
Many women report that they were not informed of a potential risk of meningioma when receiving Depo-Provera. We believe an independent review would help establish the current evidence, identify knowledge gaps, and ensure patients and healthcare professionals have access to clear, up-to-date information to support informed decision-making.
What is a Meningioma?
A meningioma is a tumour that develops in the membranes (the meninges) that cover the brain and spinal cord. Although many meningiomas are classified as benign (non-cancerous), they can still cause serious and life-changing symptoms by pressing on surrounding structures.
Symptoms can include headaches, vision problems, seizures, memory difficulties, fatigue and other neurological issues. Treatment may involve monitoring, surgery, radiotherapy, or a combination of these approaches.
While meningiomas are often described as "benign", their impact can be profound, with many people facing major surgery, lengthy recovery periods, ongoing symptoms and significant disruption to family life, employment and financial wellbeing.
The Women Behind This Campaign
This campaign has been prompted by women and families across the UK who have experienced meningioma following previous exposure to Depo-Provera.
Many have described life-changing experiences, including neurological symptoms, visual problems, major surgery, lengthy recovery periods, financial hardship and emotional distress. While individual experiences cannot establish causation, they raise important questions about medicine safety, informed consent and whether potential risks have been adequately investigated and communicated.
In addition, affected women and their families have come together through a Facebook-based support and awareness community in Scotland. The group provides peer support, shares publicly available information and research updates, and offers a space for individuals to connect with others who have had similar experiences. The concerns and questions raised within this community highlight the importance of ensuring that patient voices are heard alongside the scientific and regulatory evidence.
What Does the Evidence Show?
Published research has identified an association between prolonged exposure to medroxyprogesterone acetate and an increased risk of meningioma.
Studies published in The BMJ and JAMA Neurology have contributed important evidence to this area. However, observational studies cannot by themselves establish that a medicine caused an individual person's tumour.
For this reason, we are not asking for a predetermined conclusion. We are asking for the available evidence, UK data and patient experiences to be examined independently and transparently.
We believe a UK-wide review should consider:
- The available UK prescribing, diagnostic and patient safety data.
- The relationship between duration of exposure, cumulative dose and meningioma risk.
- Historical prescribing practices and repeat injections.
- The information provided to women when Depo-Provera was prescribed and administered.
- How emerging safety evidence was communicated to healthcare professionals and patients.
- Adverse drug reaction reporting and pharmacovigilance.
- Clinical guidance and follow-up for women with previous exposure who develop symptoms potentially consistent with meningioma.
- Whether further UK-based research is required.
- Whether patient information and awareness measures are sufficiently clear.
- Meaningful involvement of women with lived experience and their families.
Why This Matters
This campaign is not about limiting access to contraception or questioning women's reproductive choices.
It is about ensuring that women have access to clear information, meaningful informed consent, robust medicine safety monitoring and transparent investigation of emerging safety concerns.
Women deserve to understand the potential benefits and risks of any medicine they are prescribed.
Families affected by meningioma deserve to know that their concerns and experiences are being heard and properly examined.
By signing this petition, you are supporting calls for transparency, independent review, and access to up-to-date information for patients, healthcare professionals and decision-makers.
Please sign and share this petition to support an independent UK-wide review and help ensure that women, families and healthcare professionals have access to clear information and a full examination of the available evidence.
Patient Voices Matter.
Research Matters.
Transparency Matters.
2
The Issue
Introduction
Across the UK, women and families are raising concerns about the potential association between Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) and meningioma, a type of tumour that develops in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Recent research has identified an association between prolonged exposure to medroxyprogesterone acetate and an increased risk of meningioma. Many women have also reported that they were unaware of this potential risk when receiving the contraceptive injection.
We believe these concerns deserve careful and independent consideration. This petition calls on the UK Government to commission an independent UK-wide review to examine the available evidence, patient experiences, prescribing practices, informed consent processes and long-term safety monitoring relating to Depo-Provera and meningioma.
Our aim is not to predetermine the outcome of any review, but to ensure that the evidence is assessed transparently and that women, families and healthcare professionals have access to clear and up-to-date information to support informed decision-making.
Open Letter
Our full open letter provides further detail about the concerns raised by women and families, our recommendations for an independent UK-wide review, and the scientific, regulatory and publicly reported evidence supporting this campaign.
Read the full Open Letter:
Open Letter - Depo Provera and Meningioma - UK Independent Review 071026.pdf
We encourage supporters, healthcare professionals, researchers, journalists, elected representatives and policymakers to read the full letter and consider the evidence, questions and recommendations it contains.
What We Are Asking for:
This petition seeks an independent UK-wide review to examine the available evidence, patient experiences and current safety arrangements relating to Depo-Provera and meningioma.
We call on the UK Government to commission an independent UK-wide review into the potential association between Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) and meningioma.
We believe further investigation is needed into the available evidence, patient experiences, prescribing practices, informed consent processes, and long-term safety monitoring. The review should consider whether current information provided to patients is sufficient and whether additional research, guidance, or regulatory action is required.
Many women report that they were not informed of a potential risk of meningioma when receiving Depo-Provera. We believe an independent review would help establish the current evidence, identify knowledge gaps, and ensure patients and healthcare professionals have access to clear, up-to-date information to support informed decision-making.
What is a Meningioma?
A meningioma is a tumour that develops in the membranes (the meninges) that cover the brain and spinal cord. Although many meningiomas are classified as benign (non-cancerous), they can still cause serious and life-changing symptoms by pressing on surrounding structures.
Symptoms can include headaches, vision problems, seizures, memory difficulties, fatigue and other neurological issues. Treatment may involve monitoring, surgery, radiotherapy, or a combination of these approaches.
While meningiomas are often described as "benign", their impact can be profound, with many people facing major surgery, lengthy recovery periods, ongoing symptoms and significant disruption to family life, employment and financial wellbeing.
The Women Behind This Campaign
This campaign has been prompted by women and families across the UK who have experienced meningioma following previous exposure to Depo-Provera.
Many have described life-changing experiences, including neurological symptoms, visual problems, major surgery, lengthy recovery periods, financial hardship and emotional distress. While individual experiences cannot establish causation, they raise important questions about medicine safety, informed consent and whether potential risks have been adequately investigated and communicated.
In addition, affected women and their families have come together through a Facebook-based support and awareness community in Scotland. The group provides peer support, shares publicly available information and research updates, and offers a space for individuals to connect with others who have had similar experiences. The concerns and questions raised within this community highlight the importance of ensuring that patient voices are heard alongside the scientific and regulatory evidence.
What Does the Evidence Show?
Published research has identified an association between prolonged exposure to medroxyprogesterone acetate and an increased risk of meningioma.
Studies published in The BMJ and JAMA Neurology have contributed important evidence to this area. However, observational studies cannot by themselves establish that a medicine caused an individual person's tumour.
For this reason, we are not asking for a predetermined conclusion. We are asking for the available evidence, UK data and patient experiences to be examined independently and transparently.
We believe a UK-wide review should consider:
- The available UK prescribing, diagnostic and patient safety data.
- The relationship between duration of exposure, cumulative dose and meningioma risk.
- Historical prescribing practices and repeat injections.
- The information provided to women when Depo-Provera was prescribed and administered.
- How emerging safety evidence was communicated to healthcare professionals and patients.
- Adverse drug reaction reporting and pharmacovigilance.
- Clinical guidance and follow-up for women with previous exposure who develop symptoms potentially consistent with meningioma.
- Whether further UK-based research is required.
- Whether patient information and awareness measures are sufficiently clear.
- Meaningful involvement of women with lived experience and their families.
Why This Matters
This campaign is not about limiting access to contraception or questioning women's reproductive choices.
It is about ensuring that women have access to clear information, meaningful informed consent, robust medicine safety monitoring and transparent investigation of emerging safety concerns.
Women deserve to understand the potential benefits and risks of any medicine they are prescribed.
Families affected by meningioma deserve to know that their concerns and experiences are being heard and properly examined.
By signing this petition, you are supporting calls for transparency, independent review, and access to up-to-date information for patients, healthcare professionals and decision-makers.
Please sign and share this petition to support an independent UK-wide review and help ensure that women, families and healthcare professionals have access to clear information and a full examination of the available evidence.
Patient Voices Matter.
Research Matters.
Transparency Matters.
Petition Updates
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Petition created on 5 October 2026