When seeking a birth control method, men and women have many options. Depending on the person’s needs and body, a certain method or methods will likely prove to work better for them. As such, while many women choose to use birth control pills, this contraceptive method may prove unreliable or undesirable for others, causing them to seek the birth control protection and longevity that an IUD (intrauterine device) provides.
The Mirena IUD in particular has been a popular long-term birth control choice for women throughout the U.S. Inserted into the uterus, Mirena stops sperm from fertilizing the egg by causing the cervical mucus to thicken through the use of a type of progestin.
The History of Mirena IUDs
In the 1960s and 70s, copper IUDs were developed; however, it was soon afterwards found that hormonal IUDs would better protect women from unwanted pregnancies. After several other models were made and released, Finnish doctor Jouri Valter Tapani Luukkainen developed the Mirena IUD, which released levonorgestrel into a woman’s body and was made available to the public in 1990 through Bayer, Inc.
With a lifespan of 5 years, a failure rate of only .2% in the first year of use, and completely reversible effects, Mirena was originally thought to be highly effective and became quite popular. Additionally, it was also used for treating women who experienced heavy menstrual bleeding after having given birth.
Potential Side Effects of the Mirena IUD
Although Mirena has been shown to be effective as a birth control method, many medical professionals and health organizations have found that it can also cause serious health problems for women using it. Some of the complications that Mirena has been found to cause include:
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Intrauterine pregnancy
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Perforation of the uterine wall or cervix
- Vaginitis
- Ovarian cysts
- Amenorrhea
In addition to these very serious health complications, it is possible that the use of Mirena could be linked to the development of several different types of cancer, including:
- Bladder cancer
- Anal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Prostrate cancer
- Cervix cancer
- Colon cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Endometrial cancer
Although medical professionals and certain consumers may have known about these dangers, many women using the Mirena IUD were unaware of these serious health risks. This was largely due to the fact that Bayer ran a marketing campaign for the IUD in which it hosted “Mirena parties.” During these parties, a representative from the social networking website Mom Central and a nurse practitioner would extol the benefits of Mirena, making it seem more effective that it really was and as if it provided benefits other IUDs did not. As a result of this marketing, the FDA issued Bayer a warning; however, this did not stop many woman from using Mirena without being aware of its many potential serious side effects.
Seeking Medical and Legal Help
Because of the serious nature of many of the health issues associated with Mirena, any woman who has been using the IUD and experiences any unusual symptoms, such as extreme pain or bleeding, nausea, dizziness, cramping, or weakness, among other symptoms, should seek the immediate care of a medical professional.
In the case that a woman has suffered from abnormal and unexpected health problems as a result of using Mirena, they may also be eligible to seek legal action against Bayer, the manufacturer of the device. With the help of a qualified legal team, anyone who has been the victim of Bayer and the Mirena IUD may be able to obtain financial compensation for their many losses and expenses, including:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Lost wages
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of companionship
- Decreased quality of life
Additionally, if a family has tragically lost a loved one due to the use of the Mirena IUD, they can likely file a wrongful death lawsuit on the behalf of that person, seeking financial restitution and retribution for their loss.
While filing a lawsuit can not make up entirely for the losses and injuries that many women and families have sustained as a result of using Mirena, it can be essential in helping a person and their loved ones recover as best as possible, while also achieving a sense of justice. In order to best understand your situation and legal options, it is best to consult with a lawyer from Attorney Group. They can help you explore your options and potentially begin working on a claim.
