The Mirena intrauterine device (IUD) was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000 as a contraceptive. After receiving reports from women claiming that the IUD helped to reduce the severity and duration of a woman’s menstrual cycle, the FDA approved Mirena to treat heavy menstrual bleeding. However, thousands of women in the U.S. have reportedly suffered from adverse complications and lifethreatening side effects, including uterine perforation, device migration, and organ punctures.
What is the Mirena IUD?
Because these devices are not available overthecounter, the IUD must be inserted by a woman’s healthcare provider. Once it is in place, the IUD is designed to release progesterone that works to thin the walls in the uterus and prevent ovulation. According to Bayer Healthcare, the manufacturer of Mirena, women can leave the implant in place for up to five years. While this is certainly a selling point for women who struggle to remember to take a daily pill or for those who shudder at the thought of a monthly injection, the IUD has allegedly caused:
- Infertility
- Inflammation
- Perforations or obstructions of the intestines
- Uterine wall embedment
- Organ damage
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Abscesses
Since 2000, more than 70,000 adverse event reports have been submitted to the FDA. Of these, 5,000 cases allege device migration while another 1,322 women suffered from uterine perforation.
Bayer’s Questionable Marketing Tactics
In 2009, the FDA sent Bayer a warning letter in which the agency noted that Bayer was using aggressive marketing tactics. According to the FDA, Bayer was reportedly downplaying the possible complications and risks while touting the benefits of the IUD. The commercials created by Bayer allegedly used music and fastchanging images to distract viewers from the risks of uterine perforation and device migration.
Additionally, Bayer allegedly claimed that Mirena would help women to look and feel great and promised that the IUD would help to improve their intimate lives. However, according to the FDA, Bayer had no documentation or scientific evidence to support these claims, and the agency requested that Bayer use an alternative marketing tactic instead.
Women Continue to File Mirena IUD Lawsuits
If you suffered from complications after you were fitted with the Mirena IUD, contact Attorney Group for New York to learn more about filing a New York Mirena lawsuit and recovering damages for your injuries. There are currently more than 800 Mirena lawsuits pending in New Jersey state court, and the first trials are scheduled to begin in late 2015.
Bayer has also reportedly been named as a defendant in more than 500 claims proceeding in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. If you believe that you are eligible to file a New York Mirena lawsuit, it is important to seek legal representation because the time to recover the damages to which you may be entitled is limited.
Considering Filing a New York Mirena Lawsuit?
Attorney Group for New York can help potential victims of Mirena learn more about their options and answer questions they may have about the ongoing litigation. If you or a loved one believe you were injured by your Mirena IUD, call today for a free, noobligation consultation to determine whether you are eligible to file a New York Mirena lawsuit. If you are, Attorney Group for New York can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can file a New York Mirena lawsuit on your behalf and assist you in seeking the compensation to which you may be entitled.
