Women injured due to Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceutical’s Mirena IUD (intrauterine device) recently petitioned the U.S. Judicial Panel for Multidistrict Litigation to consolidate their lawsuits against the pharmaceutical giant in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, for pretrial proceedings.
More Mirena IUD Injury Lawsuits Being Filed
More and more Mirena IUD injury lawsuits are being filed across the nation over Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceutical’s Mirena – a small T-shaped contraceptive device that is inserted into the uterus and releases levonorgestrel, a synthetic progestin. The device, which may remain in place for up to 5 years, can puncture the uterus or become embedded in the uterine wall – resulting in infection, damage to other organs and internal scarring. In some cases, women have reported that their Mirena IUDs have migrated through their intra-abdominal cavity – causing adhesions, abscesses and intestinal perforations. This can result in the need for additional surgeries to remove the device and other serious Mirena side effects.
Mirena IUD Side Effects
Aside from puncturing or becoming embedded in the uterus, Bayer’s Mirena IUD has been linked to many other serious side effects, such as:
- Amenorrhea – the absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age
- Breast tenderness
- Ectopic pregnancy – a complication of pregnancy in which the embryo implants outside the uterine cavity
- Erosion of adjacent areas such as the vagina
- Infertility
- Intestinal perforations or obstruction
- Irregular spotting or bleeding
- Miscarriages
- Ovarian cysts
- Painful menstruation
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) – inflammation of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries as it progresses to scar formation with adhesions to nearby tissues and organs that can lead to infertility
- Peritonitis – inflammation of the membrane lining the abdominal cavity and internal organs
- Streptococcal sepsis – a bacteria which can cause serious injury to a mother or her child
- Vaginitis – inflammation of the vagina
Did Bayer Downplay Mirena’s Risk Of Injury?
That’s what many of the two million Mirena users in the United States want to know. In 2009, the FDA warned Bayer that its marketing gimmicks, which told women that they would “look and feel great” and have improved sex lives, “overstate the efficacy of Mirena, present unsubstantiated claims, minimize the risks of using Mirena, and include false or misleading presentations regarding Mirena.” Needless to say, Mirena sales skyrocketed. Unfortunately, many innocent women are now paying the price.
If you’ve been injured by Mirena, contact The Driscoll Firm, LLC, to discuss your situation. We have successfully resolved thousands of claims against manufacturers and sellers of defective medical devices. Let our experienced product liability attorneys help you recover the compensation to which you may be entitled.
