Intrauterine devices, or IUDs, have become the most popular reversible form of birth control in the world. This is despite massive lawsuits, subpar research, bad press, and the improper training for doctors. The Mirena lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm are currently investigating cases of serious injury from IUD use.
Since 2002, the number of American women using an IUD like Mirena has tripled, accounting for more than 10% of all contraceptives prescribed by doctors. When they were first introduced, IUDs were recommended only to women who were done having children due to the risks of infertility, hysterectomy, and infections. This practice changed quite recently, resulting in the device’s new popularity, particularly among young, unmarried, childless women.
There are two types of IUDs available in the U.S.: ParaGuard, which is non-hormonal and releases tiny amounts of copper to prevent pregnancy, and Mirena, which uses small amounts of a synthetic hormone called levonorgestrel. Unlike the pill, IUDs do not prevent ovulation; rather, they prevent egg fertilization and implantation.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-934-6555
ParaGuard costs about $300, is considered extremely safe, lasts for 10 to 12 years, and uses copper to stimulate a natural fluid that kills sperm and prevents implantation. Mirena costs upwards of $1,000, lasts for five years and prevents pregnancy by thickening a fluid in the cervix, stopping sperm from entering the fallopian tubes where fertilization occurs. Unlike ParaGuard, the side effects of Muirena can be devastating.
Doctors not Confident with IUDs
All IUDs must be inserted and removed by trained health professionals. Some pediatricians and other doctors are concerned because their basic medical training never included proper insertion of an IUD. Ob/gyns are most competent in inserting IUDs, but for young women and teens, privacy can certainly be an issue. A teenager may not be able to tell her parents she needs birth control, and in places where doctors are harder to reach, geography could also play a role.
Experts are attempting to change this by making IUD insertion a mandatory aspect of medical residencies, particularly for pediatricians. The bottom line here is that training needs to be improved in the best interest of patient health and safety.
For thousands of women, the call for proper doctor training has come far too late. Among the more serious and life-altering complications of Mirena, most can be attributed to improper insertion and monitoring. Mirena’s risks include:
¢ Perforation of internal organs, such as the uterus ¢ Expulsion ¢ Pelvic infections, such as pelvic inflammatory disesae ¢ Inflammation of the endometrium ¢ Endometrial or cervical cancer ¢ Blood pressure increase ¢ Ectopic pregnancy
¢ Painful intercourse
Some women have been forced to undergo hysterectomies due to these complications – many of whom were women in their 20s without children, but who wished to eventually have children. The most devastating Mirena injuries occur when the IUD perforates the uterus and migrates through the abdomen or other organs. This results in scar tissue, infections, cysts, and organ blockages.
In addition to the pain, Mirena perforation also requires extensive, repeated, invasive surgeries that often leave young women infertile. Thousands of women have suffered this life-changing complication, resulting in massive lawsuits against Bayer, the manufacturer of Mirena.
Click to contact our lawyers today
Lawsuits against Bayer claim that it failed to warn both the public and doctors about the serious risks of the device. Not only this, but the company enacted widespread campaigns to exaggerate the supposed benefits of Mirena and underplaying or simply not mentioning the most serious complications. This misleading misrepresentation, including working with networking site Mom Central, caused many women to agree to get the Mirena without understating its true risks.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
The Mirena attorneys at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm are currently accepting cases of severe injury from the IUD. If you or someone close to you suffered serious complications from Mirena contact our firm as soon as possible. The injured may be entitled to benefits and damages for the medical bills, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life from this device. Our case reviews are always free, confidential, and available to concerned parties nationwide.
Call or text 800-934-6555 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form