Get Help With Your IUD Lawsuit
Intrauterine devices (IUD) like Mirena and Paragard are T-shaped devices that act as a form of birth control. IUDs are implanted by health-care professionals, and when they are placed correctly, they are more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy for multiple years at a time. However, thousands of women who have used IUDs have alleged that these products are actually more dangerous than their manufacturers let on and that deceptive advertising has been used to hide the many risks and complications. Bayer, manufacturer of Mirena, is facing numerous lawsuits from women who experienced organ perforation after having this IUD implanted, and women are also suing Teva Pharmaceuticals after their Paragard IUD broke upon removal, leaving pieces embedded in the uterus. If you’ve experienced complications due to a defective IUD, the product liability attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP may be able to help you get compensation.
IUD Side Effects and Complications
Nearly all types of birth control are linked to mild side effects. Hormonal IUDs, such as Mirena, which contain levonorgestrel, can cause side effects such as:
- Spotting/irregular periods
- Headaches
- Breast tenderness
- Acne
- Pelvic pain/cramping
- Mood changes
- Weight gain
- Ovarian cysts
Side effects of Paragard, a copper IUD that does not contain hormones, may include:
- Spotting
- Cramping
- Heavy bleeding
- Anemia
- Backaches
However, thousands of women have suffered from more serious complications after using IUDs like Mirena or Paragard. These include:
- Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), also known as pseudotumor cerebri
- Vision issues (such as blindness or blurred vision)
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- IUD migration
- Perforation of the uterus
- Device breakage
- Infections
- Scarring
- Organ damage
- Ectopic pregnancy
One of the most devastating side effects for some women is infertility. While IUDs are intended to prevent pregnancy, that doesn’t mean that all women with an IUD will never want to become pregnant again. All IUD advertisements suggest that as soon as the device is removed, a patient shouldn’t have any issues with fertility. However, if the uterus is damaged due to perforation or migration, the patient could need to undergo a hysterectomy. Some women have filed an IUD infertility lawsuit to seek compensation for the cost of their surgery as well as the distress of losing the ability to choose whether or not they want to have children.
If you or a loved one experienced any of these serious side effects and injuries due to a faulty IUD, you may be able to recover compensation through an IUD lawsuit.
Major IUD Cases
Numerous lawsuits have been filed over injuries attributed to IUDs, and many of these have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation (“MDL”):
MDL 2767: Pseudotumor Cerebri Injuries
Thousands of users of Mirena have alleged that the birth control device is linked to a serious brain injury called pseudotumor cerebri (PTC), which mimics the symptoms of a brain tumor by increasing the fluid pressure in and around the brain. Lawsuits consolidated in this multidistrict litigation claim that Bayer misled people about the potential effects of levonorgestrel.
MDL 2434: Mirena IUD Perforation Lawsuits
Mirena users in this multidistrict action claimed that Bayer failed to warn them that the IUD could puncture the uterus and migrate around the body, causing significant and painful complications. More than 1,300 women filed a Mirena IUD migration lawsuit included in this action, but the court rejected their proposed expert witnesses, leaving them without adequate proof of their claims. Most of the IUD perforation lawsuits were resolved in the fall of 2018, with Bayer offering $12.2 million in settlements.
Paragard Broken IUD Lawsuit Claims
Meanwhile, a growing number of women are filing an IUD lawsuit against Teva Pharmaceuticals, maker of Paragard, over defects in these devices. When these women went to the doctor to have the IUD removed, they found that it had broken inside of them, leaving pieces behind. In some cases, these pieces became embedded in the uterus, causing serious injury. Often, the women needed surgery to remove the pieces left behind; in some cases, the fragments of the IUD were so deeply embedded that a full hysterectomy was required. While there has not yet been a copper IUD class-action lawsuit or MDL, it’s certainly not outside the realm of possibility.
Get a Free Consultation on
Your IUD Infertility Lawsuit
If you or someone you love has suffered from an IUD injury or infertility due to a faulty IUD, the experienced attorneys at Parker Waichman can help you learn about your legal options. While IUD lawsuit settlement amounts may vary, we’ll fight hard to get you every penny of compensation you deserve for your injuries and hold the makers of these defective medical devices accountable for their actions. We’re not afraid to take on big companies like Bayer and Teva, and we’ll take on all of the risk: You’ll pay nothing for your IUD birth control lawsuit unless we recover compensation for you.
Call 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529) today to get a free case evaluation from a compassionate lawyer who can advise you of your legal rights. Together, we can bring IUD manufacturers to justice.