The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Mirena intrauterine device in 2000 as an internal contraceptive. Later, because the device reportedly helped to reduce the severity and duration of a woman’s menstruation cycle, the agency issued its approval for the implant to be used to treat heavy menstrual bleeding. However, according to thousands of women in the U.S., Mirena can potentially shift or migrate away from its correct placement and puncture nearby organs, perforate the uterus, or cause other serious complications.
Mirena IUD Overview
The Mirena IUD must be inserted by a physician. Once the device is in place, it begins to release progesterone to thin the uterine walls and prevent ovulation so that no egg is present for the sperm to fertilize. According to the device’s manufacturer, Bayer Healthcare, women can choose to leave the implant in place for up to five years. While the IUD has been a go-to contraceptive choice for thousands of women who wish to avoid taking daily pills or receiving monthly injections, others assert that Mirena caused them to suffer from:
- Uterine wall embedment
- Inflammation
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Abscesses
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Organ damage
- Infertility
- Obstructions or perforations of the intestines
Bayer’s Marketing Tactics Questioned
Bayer received a warning letter from the FDA in 2009 in which the agency accused the manufacturer of touting the benefits of Mirena while simultaneously downplaying the potential risks and complications. According to the FDA, Bayer’s commercials used tactics such as fast-changing images and music to draw viewers’ attention away from the possibility of device migration and uterine perforation. Additionally, Bayer claimed that its product would help women to feel and look great as well as improve their sexual relationships; Bayer allegedly had neither the scientific evidence nor the documentation to support these claims.
Number of Mirena IUD Lawsuits Increasing
Contact an attorney today to learn more about filing an Iowa Mirena Lawsuit if you experienced complications after you were fitted with the Mirena IUD. According to court documents, more than 800 Mirena lawsuits are currently pending in New Jersey state court. The first state court trials will commence in late 2015. Additionally, Bayer has been named as a defendant in more than 500 lawsuits that have recently been centralized in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. If you believe that you are eligible to file an Iowa Mirena lawsuit, it is important to seek legal counsel today because the time to pursue a claim may be limited.
According to court documents, more than 70,000 adverse event reports involving Mirena have been submitted to the FDA since 2000. Of these, at least 1,322 reports were filed on behalf of women experiencing uterine puncture wounds, and 5,000 cases allege that the IUD migrated inside patients’ bodies, causing severe and life-threatening problems. Additionally, many women have claimed that they were required to undergo painful and expensive surgical procedures to locate the device and resolve the conditions caused by its migration. In some cases, women suffered from ectopic pregnancies and underwent hysterectomies, rendering them unable to bear children.
Consider Filing an Iowa Mirena Lawsuit Today
Attorney Group for Iowa is currently providing free case evaluations to women who received the Mirena IUD and subsequently suffered from ectopic pregnancy, device migration, uterine perforation, or other complications. Contact us today to determine whether you are eligible to file an Iowa Mirena lawsuit and potentially recover damages for your injuries. We can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can file your Iowa Mirena lawsuit and assist you throughout the legal process. There is no cost to speak with us, so consider seeking legal representation today.
