A new class action lawsuit has been leveled against Bayer alleging that the medical device manufacturer’s popular birth control device, Essure, has caused some serious and even life-changing complications in hundreds of its users in Australia.

In the United States, Bayer has decided to end the sales of its Essure device. The company claims its decision to do so is directly related to a decrease in sales, rather than because of any complications. That being said, more than 5,000 adverse event reports have been filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding Essure complications.

Thousands of lawsuits have already been filed in the United States over Essure complications, alleging that Bayer failed to adequately warn about the device’s risks. If you or someone you love has suffered from complications because of the Essure birth control device, you may be able to file an Essure lawsuit.

Basics of Essure Birth Control

Bayer’s Essure birth control has become so popular that the device has been implanted in around 750,000 women so far, since its FDA approval in 2002. Essure was designed as an alternative form of birth control to offer those who want to prevent pregnancy long-term but who may not want to undergo surgical tubal ligation.

The Essure system is made up of two metal coils and a fabric lining, which are placed in the fallopian tubes. Implantation of the Essure device is designed to be done in a doctor’s office without invasive surgery. After this initial procedure, it takes two to three months for the Essure coils to expand in place, allowing the surrounding tissue to grow in around them. This is meant to completely block the fallopian tubes, preventing pregnancy.

According to Bayer’s advertising, Essure is a safe and effective method of permanent birth control. Indeed, Bayer Healthcare has continuously marketed Essure as a safer, simpler, and more effective method of permanent birth control than other options currently available, lawsuits claim. However, more and more patients claim that they have suffered from significant Essure birth control side effects after implantation with the device.

Essure Birth Control Side Effects

Any medication or medical device will come with certain side effects, but patients implanted with Essure claim that they were not adequately warned about major Essure birth control side effects.

Patients have reported suffering from Essure birth control side effects including the failure of the implant, device migration, organ perforation, device fracture, and ectopic pregnancy.

Some more major Essure birth control side effects may require device removal. Unfortunately, removal surgery can bring with it its own complications. Surgery is further complicated if a patient has suffered from Essure birth control side effects like device fracture or migration, which can make removal far more difficult, sometimes necessitating a complete hysterectomy.

Filing an Essure Lawsuit Over Side Effects

If you or someone you love has suffered from any of these minor or major Essure birth control side effects, you may be able to file an Essure lawsuit against Bayer. Filing an Essure lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused the birth control device, but it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.