Mirena Lawsuits Filed Over Complications with IUD Birth Control Device

Bayer faces at least two new lawsuits over its Mirena IUD (intra-uterine device), which were filed by women who indicate that the implanted birth control devices migrated within their bodies and had to be removed. 

The complaints were both filed in New Jersey Superior Court in Morris County, according to a press release issued by the women’s lawyers.

One claim was filed late last month, by a woman from Oklahoma, and the second was filed in April, by a woman from Ohio. In both cases, the lawsuits allege that the Mirena IUD detached from it’s location in the uterus and was moving through the women’s bodies, causing internal injury.

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Mirena IUD is a long-lasting, but reversible, birth control device that is placed into the uterus to prevent pregnancy by disrupting the egg and sperm. The device also releases levonorgestrel, which is a progestin designed to help keep the woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs.

Introduced by Bayer in 2000, use of Mirena birth control has grown in recent years, amid heavy promotion of the device as a hassle-free form of birth control that can prevent pregnancy for five years or longer. However, a number of users have experienced severe problems with Mirena, including perforation or puncturing of the uterus, or migration of the device to other parts of the body if a perforation is not detected. This may result in intestinal perforations, obstructions, absecesses, adhesions as well as a risk of infection.

According to allegations raised in both of the recently filed Mirena lawsuits, the plaintiffs had to have hysterectomies because of the migration, which results in permanent infertility.

A recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 30% of all doctors surveyed thought IUDs were unsafe for women who had not yet had a child or they were uncertain whether they were safe. The fears have led to 60% deciding to only provide them occasionally, and usually that was only when their patient expressed a preference for the devices.

Despite the reported complications with Mirena IUD, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and other groups have maintained that IUDs are highly effective as sterilization that is reversible. CDC researchers indicate that they are safe for women and reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy.

When IUDs were first introduced to the market, they carried a warning that they were contraindicated for women who had never had children due to fears of pelvic infection. Those concerns have been disproven by later studies, according to the researchers.

The latest lawsuits seek compensatory damages from Bayer, the manufacturer, for pain and suffering, severe and permanent physical injuries, medical expenses and lost wages .

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10 Comments

  • RebeccaFebruary 12, 2013 at 7:00 pm

    MMy IUD is lost,hairloss cramps and they have been doing alot of bloodwork I wasnt aeare of all this

  • JENNIFERFebruary 12, 2013 at 12:49 am

    I HAD TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY HYSTERECTOMY BECAUSE OF MERINA, GET IT OUT NOW!!

  • TINANovember 19, 2012 at 3:39 am

    I HAD IT PUT IN NINE YEARD AGO AFTER INSERTION OF MIRENA I COULDNT FEEL IT BEING TOLD WHEN I WENT BACK THAT I WAS PREG. AND IT CAME OUT AND OR IT WAS STILL INSIDE ME I WAD OK IT WOULD COME OUT WHILE GIVING BIRTH I WAS FINE. NOW ABOUT A MONTH AGO I WENT TO ER WITH PAIN AND NERVE DAMAGE SWELLING AND TURNING PURPLE BACK PAIN INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY . PAIN IN MY HIPS HAND AND FEET TIN.GLING. I CA[Show More]I HAD IT PUT IN NINE YEARD AGO AFTER INSERTION OF MIRENA I COULDNT FEEL IT BEING TOLD WHEN I WENT BACK THAT I WAS PREG. AND IT CAME OUT AND OR IT WAS STILL INSIDE ME I WAD OK IT WOULD COME OUT WHILE GIVING BIRTH I WAS FINE. NOW ABOUT A MONTH AGO I WENT TO ER WITH PAIN AND NERVE DAMAGE SWELLING AND TURNING PURPLE BACK PAIN INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY . PAIN IN MY HIPS HAND AND FEET TIN.GLING. I CANT EVEN EAT ANY MORE WITH OUT IT HURTING. IM IN PAIN EVERYDAY . Until this day. Its still inside me. Fearing im going to bloe up inside like the er said and possible death. . Please rethink your birthcontrol options. Please

  • KellyNovember 11, 2012 at 12:56 am

    I had the Mirena put into my body the first week of June of 2009. From about an hour after insertion I had severe cramping and bleeding. This continued until the first week of July 2009. I did not want to have my tubes tied because that would take away my right to bear children, however, thanks to this little device that right has been taken away from me. In the first week of July I felt somethi[Show More]I had the Mirena put into my body the first week of June of 2009. From about an hour after insertion I had severe cramping and bleeding. This continued until the first week of July 2009. I did not want to have my tubes tied because that would take away my right to bear children, however, thanks to this little device that right has been taken away from me. In the first week of July I felt something pinching me I reached down only to the two sharp pieces of metal wire coming out of me and so did my mirena. Now I have a flipped cervix and a tilted uterus. I am outraged with device and feel like they have taken my right to have children away from me.

  • MariaOctober 9, 2012 at 7:28 am

    Consequences IUD have Carcionoma in my cervix I have to go for a DNC

  • JenniferJuly 25, 2012 at 1:46 am

    My sister had this device, the consequences was a hysterectomy because the device caused necrosis!!!! Get it out of your body NOW!!!

  • TineshaJuly 2, 2012 at 10:50 pm

    From the Mirena I had cyst to appear passing of blood clots were associated with merena included : head aches, dizziness, depression, acne, heart palpitations, tinglining in hands and feet, , nausea, painful periods, ect. I had it removed Feb of 2012. At that time the doctor had to use a device to remove it because it was so far up in my system with them not knowing how it went there at first they[Show More]From the Mirena I had cyst to appear passing of blood clots were associated with merena included : head aches, dizziness, depression, acne, heart palpitations, tinglining in hands and feet, , nausea, painful periods, ect. I had it removed Feb of 2012. At that time the doctor had to use a device to remove it because it was so far up in my system with them not knowing how it went there at first they thought they were gonna have to do a surgery to remove it.

  • meghanJune 24, 2012 at 3:06 pm

    i would not recommend mirena for ANYONE>.. granted everyones body takes to it differently, but its nt worth the risks to even take the chance. i had mirena from april 2008 to may 2012. i had to have it surgically removed immediately due to a severe infection in my uterus caused by the mirena. had to be hospitalized for about 5 days. i am currently 5 weeks pregnant and been back in the hospital [Show More]i would not recommend mirena for ANYONE>.. granted everyones body takes to it differently, but its nt worth the risks to even take the chance. i had mirena from april 2008 to may 2012. i had to have it surgically removed immediately due to a severe infection in my uterus caused by the mirena. had to be hospitalized for about 5 days. i am currently 5 weeks pregnant and been back in the hospital for 3 days now due to the same infection and was basically forced to take a medication that could potentially harm my baby. the antibiotic i am on is doxycycline, you can google that and understand my concern. i think that mirena should be tooken off the market. i was never aware of the serious complications mirena could cause, however i was aware it could cause ovarian cysts. i just would not wanna see anyone else goin thru what i am going thru right now. i just pray and hope that my baby comes out healthy.

  • heatherJune 23, 2012 at 7:14 am

    side effects i had that were associated with merena included : head aches, dizziness, depression, acne, heart palpitations, tinglining in hands and feet, burning sensation on skin, nausea, painful periods, ect. the list goes on. i was in and out of the emergency room for months before i realized maybe my merena was to blame. i had it removed and for atleast 3 more months suffered the effects of it[Show More]side effects i had that were associated with merena included : head aches, dizziness, depression, acne, heart palpitations, tinglining in hands and feet, burning sensation on skin, nausea, painful periods, ect. the list goes on. i was in and out of the emergency room for months before i realized maybe my merena was to blame. i had it removed and for atleast 3 more months suffered the effects of it . i still have to deal with small things associated with the iud. example ; headaches and painful periods that are very heavy, fatigue, nausea every day. i hope they take it off the market

  • chandraJune 19, 2012 at 4:27 pm

    Severe abdominal pain, irregular bleeding, headaches like crazy. Always feeling sick.

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