Essure health problems have been a prominent concern for women and their families for the past several years, as allegations of device failure and complications continuously increase.

Bayer HealthCare has marketed the Essure birth control as a safer and more convenient alternative to tubal ligation, which was prescribed to thousands of women. This, however, has not proven to be the case.

Women found the idea of the Essure very compelling, as it did not require extensive hospital recovery time and was a much less invasive procedure. At the time of the product’s release in 2002, Essure birth control was considered a breakthrough discovery for women seeking female sterilization.

However a number of women who have used the permanent contraceptive have alleged serious Essure health problems including device migration and perforation, device failure, organ perforation, and ectopic pregnancies. In addition, Essure patients also reported experiencing bloating, rashes, allergy symptoms, excessive bleeding, pelvic pain, unplanned pregnancies, and miscarriages.

These women allege that they were not informed of potential Essure health problems until the FDA stated it had received over 4,500 adverse event reports.

Overview of Essure Health Problems

The Essure contraceptive device consists of two metal coils, which are implanted into each of the fallopian tubes. Eventually, the tissue swells around the coils, ultimately preventing sperm to egg fertilization.

The Essure birth control device is currently the only form of non-surgical birth control available in the United States, and is a popular option for women who want a simpler option than tubal ligation. But with the concern of Essure health problems, critics of the contraceptive wonder if the product was sufficiently evaluated before its release.

Even though the Essure birth control was marketed to be a safe alternative to traditional female sterilization methods, recent injury reports have suggested otherwise. Women who have experienced Essure complications have reported a variety of symptoms, from headaches to unbearable abdominal pain.

Around 2015, the FDA had received over 10,000 injury complaints alleging Essure health problems. Consumer advocate Erin Brockovich has been leading a campaign to recall the Essure birth control, complaining that the permanent contraceptive should never have gained FDA approval.

The FDA eventually took issue with the injury reports, starting a post-market review of the Essure birth control. However instead of taking the Essure birth control off the market, the FDA mandated Essure’s warning label be updated to included a black box warning.

Even though a black box warning may help prevent future cases, it does not help patients who have already experienced Essure health problems. Patients who have suffered injury from the Essure birth control device may be able to file legal action against Bayer HealthCare, for failing to warn them against these complications.