Australian women who developed a type of benign brain tumour after using a popular contraceptive are considering joining a class action against Pfizer. It comes after a major study found women who used Depo-Provera for more than a year had a higher risk of developing a meningioma compared to women who didn't use it. Doctors say while Depo-Provera can be a useful treatment for some conditions, including endometriosis and heavy periods, its long-term use should be carefully considered.
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00:00Chanel Clark was 31 when doctors discovered she had a brain tumour.
00:07The part of the brain in which it's located affects things like speech and memory and
00:13moods which could in turn one day mean that my personality changes.
00:19It's a meningioma, a common slow growing tumour.
00:23The hardest part was contacting my friends and family.
00:26It's a constant worry.
00:28It's a constant battle.
00:30She joins women around the world questioning whether their tumour is linked to long-term
00:34use of a contraceptive injection called Depo-Provera.
00:39In March, a study of 100,000 French women found a five-fold increased risk of meningiomas
00:45among women who used the synthetic progesterone.
00:48Our results are not isolated internationally.
00:51They have been confirmed by results from Indonesian studies and recently by a large-scale study
00:58from the U.S.A.
00:59It's quite a big tumour.
01:02Meningiomas are benign but can get big and need removal.
01:05You can be close to some pretty important nerves, regions of the brain, arteries supplying
01:10blood to the brain or to the spinal cord.
01:143.6 million Depo-Provera shots have been injected in Australia since 1992.
01:20Overseas, women are looking at class actions against Makers Pfizer.
01:26Here, Shine lawyers are considering litigation.
01:29Until February of this year, there was no disclosure or warning whatsoever in any of
01:34the material that's provided to consumers or their doctors.
01:38Experts say the overall risk is low and should be weighed against an unwanted pregnancy or
01:43other conditions.
01:44It is a good treatment option for those women who have endometriosis or who have heavy periods.
01:51Pfizer says Depo-Provera has been a safe and effective drug for 30 years.