IVF solution lawsuit investigation

Tainted CooperSurgical IVF solution: Who’s affected?

Were you among the heartbroken patients whose fertilized eggs died in an IVF clinic? The culprit may be a culture solution produced by CooperSurgical.

Would-be parents have been dealt a devastating blow by the company entrusted with protecting their fertilized eggs.

A preservative solution sold by CooperSurgical, Inc. to fertility clinics has been recalled because embryos lost their viability. Shattered patients say CooperSurgical did not conduct thorough testing on their embryo culture solution and assert that the company’s negligence caused its product to be defective.  

A single round of ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval and embryo transfer (IVF) can range from $15,000 to $30,000. It may take several IVF treatments to result in pregnancy and some never succeed. Many people find the cost of continuous treatment too expensive and too emotionally draining to continue. While no amount of money can soothe the pain, you may qualify to join a class action lawsuit for damages against CooperSurgical.  

A sad recall

CooperSurgical recalled some lots of its global® media after it became “aware of a sudden increase in complaints,” according to the letter that went to clinics that purchased it.

CooperSurgical, based in Connecticut, is a big name in IVF treatments.

Medical professionals found the tainted human eggs died within the first five or six days, before they reached the blastocyst stage during which they are frozen or transferred.

Salvation for some families

IVF is seen as salvation for some people who want children but have issues conceiving naturally for various reasons. It is tailored to the age and health of the patients, but generally involves a series of shots and other procedures to induce ovulation and prepare the uterus to accept the fertilized egg.

According to the Mayo Clinic, it is used in patients and partners who have:

• Fallopian tube damage or blockage
• Ovulation disorders
• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroids
• Tubal ligation
• Issues with sperm
• Unexplained infertility
• Genetic disorders
• Cancer or other illnesses

The procedure is also performed for people who don’t have a working uterus or for whom pregnancy poses a serious health risk. In those cases, a person called a “gestational carrier” is impregnated as a surrogate. In most states, paid surrogacy is legal.

Others may choose to use donated eggs and sperm.

What they risk

Patients hoping to become pregnant face added health risks including:

• Stress
• Bleeding
• Infection or damage to the bowel, bladder or blood vessel
• Belly pain
• Bloating
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Miscarriage
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Multiple pregnancy
• Birth defects
• Premature delivery
• Low birthrate

The eggs that were destroyed followed a weeks- or months-long series of procedures and medication therapy, perhaps including:

• Ovarian reserve testing
• Semen analysis
• Infectious disease screening
• Practice embryo transfer (not using real embryos)
• Uterine examination

Having endured all of this, if you were met with the heartbreaking fact that your fertilized eggs had died, you may be able to join a class action lawsuit to seek compensation and some consolation that the company must seek a better way so it never happens to others.