Eight women who developed meningiomas—benign brain and spinal cord tumours—after using the contraceptive injection Depo-Provera have called for a public inquiry into the drug's use in the UK. They met with cross-party politicians at Holyrood on Wednesday, after the Record highlighted their cases.
Victims Share Their Stories
Tammy Croston, 47, from Cupar in Fife, lost the use of one eye after surgery to remove one of four meningiomas. She chaired the meeting and said: "Our calls for a public inquiry were well-received by all cross-party politicians and they accepted that this scandal requires urgent action. I do hope that this goes to a UK-wide review - we need to stop the next generation from going through what we've been through."
Trish Saunders, 45, from Aberdeen, began using Depo-Provera in 1999 for heavy periods. She was diagnosed with a 5mm meningioma in 2013 after her eye swelled, and surgery left her face half-paralysed. She said: "We want there to be a review into this injection in the UK. Pfizer cannot continue getting away with claiming that this side effect is rare - look at how many of us there are here today."
Demands for Action
The victims called for a public inquiry, education on the jab's dangers in schools, and urgent NHS screenings for women with symptoms of brain tumours after taking Depo-Provera. Kirsty McCord, 52, from Biggar, South Lanarkshire, began taking the jab at 18 and was diagnosed with a tangerine-sized meningioma after a seizure last year. She said: "The cross-party MSPs seemed genuinely concerned. We need a review into the use of this shot to ensure no more women in our country go through this."
Scientific Evidence and Legal Action
A 2024 study in the British Medical Journal found that prolonged use of Depo-Provera increases the risk of developing meningiomas fivefold. Last week, Pfizer agreed to settle over 5,000 lawsuits in the US, where women claimed the company failed to warn about the tumour risk. Patrick McGuire, senior partner with Thompsons Solicitors representing victims in Scotland, said: "Today marks the start of a very long journey. We have so many questions over the wrongs of so many years... the only way that can be achieved is by a full public inquiry at UK-level."
