Cheryl Donnelly, 48, from Bishopbriggs, developed a meningioma - a non-cancerous brain tumour - after taking the Depo-Provera contraceptive jab for 15 years. The mum-of-three began suffering from overwhelming fatigue, buzzing in her ears, muscle weakness, cognitive issues, memory loss and vertigo episodes in 2020.
It wasn't until her eye began to bulge last year that she was referred for an MRI scan, leading to a meningioma diagnosis in April. She now needs invasive surgery to remove the mass from her skull.
Dismissed symptoms
Speaking to the Record, Cheryl said: "Looking back, I had been experiencing symptoms for years. I was initially told that it could have been Covid or that because I was a woman of a certain age, I was premenopausal."
"I just got on with it because that is what life can be like when you get to my age. My muscles were weakening, my speech was slurring but when my eye started bulging, I knew something wasn't right."
"I was referred for an MRI after this, and that's when they found the tumour. These symptoms have affected my daily life. At one point, I even became convinced I had multiple sclerosis."
Call for awareness
The mum has now called on medical practitioners to be better aware of the dangers associated with the jab. She also wants women prescribed the drug for several years to be routinely screened for meningiomas.
She said: "I want those who are prescribing Depo-Provera to be more aware and informed of this side effect. Women who have prolonged use of Depo also need to be regularly screened, and our younger generations need to be fully aware of their choices."
A study published by the British Medical Journal in 2024 found that prolonged use of Depo-Provera causes a significant increase in the risk of developing a meningioma. The paper found that women who used Depo-Provera were five times more likely to be diagnosed with meningiomas compared to those who never used the birth control shot.
Cheryl added: "The research has been there for two years yet women still aren't being made fully aware of the dangers. Like many others, I was never told that this contraceptive could cause brain tumours."
"If I had been told, I would never have taken it."
Legal action
Cheryl has joined a group of 160 women in Scotland seeking damages against manufacturer Pfizer. In June, the group took their fight to the Scottish Parliament and called on the government to lead a UK-wide public inquiry into the jab.
Thompsons Solicitors Scotland, which is representing the victims, has been contacted by more than 250 women since the Record began to unearth the scandal earlier this year.
Patrick McGuire, senior partner with Thompsons Solicitors Scotland, said: "Cheryl’s account of how Depo-Provera has impacted her life is deeply moving. It’s extremely brave of her to come forward and share her experience."
"We are building a strong case against the manufacturers of Depo-Provera but we are also calling for a full public inquiry to be set by the UK Government as quickly as possible. Victims of Depo-Provera across the UK deserve answers and be confident that lessons have been learned and changes made."
"Our Scottish case is leading the way."
A spokesperson for Pfizer said: "Patient safety is our top priority. We conduct rigorous and continuous monitoring of all our medicines, including assessments of reported adverse events, in collaboration with health authorities around the globe. Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) has been approved in more than 60 countries over the last 30 years, has a well-established efficacy and safety profile and has been a treatment option for millions of patients during that time."
"We would encourage people to speak to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse if they have any concerns or experience any side effects."
Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: "I have the utmost sympathy for Cheryl and all women who have been harmed by Depo Provera."
"I met with some of the women to hear first-hand of their experiences and I have agreed a series of actions with them that we will take forward, which includes issuing a letter directly to healthcare professionals in Scotland to ensure that they are aware of the risks associated with the long-term use of Depo-Provera."
"The regulation of medicines is reserved to the UK Government, meaning any further investigation into Depo Provera would be a matter for it the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to consider."
