Anne Davies, 47, from Perth, was diagnosed with multiple meningiomas - non-cancerous brain tumours - in December last year. The mum-of-two consistently took Depo-Provera after having problems with other contraceptives.
But around seven years ago, Anne began suffering from hearing loss, sight loss, memory loss and severe headaches. She was told her symptoms were stress-related and that she was premenopausal.
Diagnosis and inoperable tumours
In November, when Anne began suffering blackouts, doctors noticed her right eye was beginning to bulge and referred her for an MRI. There, it was revealed that around seven meningiomas were growing inside her skull.
Speaking to the Record, Anne said: "I took this injection for years, never once was I told of its link to brain tumours. I spent a long time going back and forth to the doctor.
"At the time, I was suffering from the typical signs of a tumour but my symptoms were dismissed as stress and the menopause. I wasn't menopausal. I was in tune with my body and my worries weren't properly listened to."
Unfortunately, the tumours are growing against the veins and optic nerves in Anne's brain - meaning they are inoperable. Their awkward positions inside Anne's skull mean she also cannot get radiotherapy to shrink them.
Brain slipping down spine
As the meningiomas grow in size, they continue to push against her brain, causing it to slip down her spine. Images from a recent brain scan show Anne's brain spilling down her spinal column as the tumours push for space inside her head.
Anne said: "I'm terrified. There's no space for them to go and space is running out inside my head so they're pushing my brain down into my spinal cord.
"Depo-Provera is the only thing I can blame for these tumours - it's the only medication I have ever taken that can cause them. The tumours are growing into the veins in my brain and they're only getting bigger.
"They could change my life and that terrifies me. Even a bump to my head could possibly kill me.
"I don't know what the future holds for me, it's the not knowing what could happen that is so daunting."
Campaign for regulation and legal action
Anne has joined a group of around 150 other victims in Scotland in their fight for the drug to be better regulated in the UK. The Daily Record has highlighted their testimonies of brain tumours, bulging eyes and seizures.
Some have been unable to return to their daily lives following long-term use of the drug. Last month the women called on Andy Burnham to launch a UK-wide probe into the injection in a damning letter.
Anne has supported their calls. She said: "Pfizer must take ownership for what they're doing to women's lives and the government must investigate this drug in an inquiry to prevent other women from going through what we are all enduring."
The group are being represented by Thompsons Solicitors Scotland in their fight for compensation from manufacturer Pfizer. Patrick McGuire, senior partner with the firm, said: "When the public read in the Daily Record of Anne's suffering from tumours caused by Depo-Provera they will rightly be appalled. How is it possible that women across the country could have been prescribed this drug for many years with no warning of the side effects.
"The courage of Anne and my other clients in this law suit is humbling and the time has come for our political leaders show courage of their own. The UK Government must set up a Public Inquiry. That is the only way that the victims and the public will learn the full truth of the Depo-Provera scandal and ensure that lessons are learned.
"Scottish victims have led the way on raising awareness of the awful toll of Depo Provera and the Scottish Parliament must therefore lead the way in demanding that the UK Goverment set up a Public Inquiry without any further delay."
Evidence and wider impact
In 2024, a proven link was made between Depo-Provera and meningiomas. The research, carried out by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), found that women who used the drug were five times more likely to be diagnosed with the tumours than women who have never used the birth control.
Earlier this month, Scotland's Chief Pharmaceutical Officer instructed all GPs to warn women about the tumour side effect after the women took their fight to Holyrood. The letter also instructed healthcare providers to review prescriptions every two years and to be aware of the actions they should take in the event that a tumour is suspected.
Thousands of women in America are currently in the process of suing Pfizer. In June, the pharmaceutical giant agreed to settle over 5,000 US lawsuits. Further group actions are also expanding across England and the rest of the UK.
A spokesperson for Anne's GP surgery The Red Practice said: "Due to patient confidentiality, we are unable to comment on matters relating to individual patients. Where patients have concerns about their care, we would encourage them to raise these directly with the practice through our established complaints procedures."
The Record has approached Pfizer and the UK Government for comment.
