Nationwide — Elizabeth Fleurisma, a 33-year-old African American woman from Long Island, New York, says years of using Depo-Provera led to a life-changing brain tumor. She is now suing Pfizer, alleging the company failed to warn women about serious health risks tied to the birth control shot.
Fleurisma was 30 years old when doctors discovered a lime-sized meningioma in her brain. She underwent a 16-hour surgery, followed by weeks of radiation. Surgeons were unable to remove the entire tumor, leaving her with lasting symptoms that affect her speech, memory, and daily life.
“When I came out of surgery, when I came home, it’s almost like I didn’t even know my environment,” Fleurisma told the New York Post. “Sometimes when I’m trying to speak, I’ll forget a word.”
She believes the tumor developed after using Depo-Provera for eight years. Fleurisma began the injections in her early 20s after having trouble taking birth control pills consistently. Her lawsuit claims she was never warned about any link between the drug and brain tumors.
Fleurisma is one of 75 women in New York who have filed lawsuits against Pfizer over Depo-Provera. Nationwide, nearly 1,500 similar cases are pending in federal court. The lawsuits allege Pfizer knew or should have known about an increased risk of meningiomas associated with the drug.
Pfizer has denied the allegations, stating that Depo-Provera is safe and has been used by millions of women. The company says it plans to vigorously defend the claims. Pfizer has also said it asked the FDA in 2023 to add a warning label after reviewing new research, but regulators declined at the time.
Fleurisma’s health problems began in early 2023 with intense headaches and fatigue. After collapsing with severe pain and fever, she went to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed the tumor. She later had a craniotomy and nearly a month of radiation treatments.
Recovery forced Fleurisma to put her career on hold and temporarily send her son to live with his father. She continues to undergo annual scans to monitor the remaining tumor and says she still experiences vision problems, dizziness, and nausea.
Fleurisma stopped using Depo-Provera in 2023 on medical advice. She filed her lawsuit in March, saying she hopes other women will be better informed when making decisions about their reproductive health.
“Some women … don’t ask questions, and that’s what I didn’t do,” she added. “You have a voice, you speak on your health, and you take care of your health.”