A South Carolina woman filed an Essure birth control lawsuit against Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals claiming the company concealed knowledge of device fracture and used deceptive tactics to market Essure birth control.

Plaintiff Tanya D. had the Essure birth control device implanted in September 2012 and claims that Bayer’s defective design of Essure caused the device to fracture inside her right fallopian tube, causing her to suffer from Essure complications including daily, intense pelvic and abdominal pain, headaches, and heavy bleeding.

As a result of these Essure complications, in Feb. 2013 Tanya underwent surgery to remove her right fallopian tube and the broken pieces of the Essure device. Tanya continues to suffer physical pain due to the remaining Essure coil in the left tube, as well as mental and emotional anguish from the experience.

Tanya has also been advised by several medical doctors that she is need of a total hysterectomy.

The Essure lawsuit also accuses Bayer of fraudulently concealing adverse reports of migrations and perforations from not only Tanya but also from the FDA.

The Essure Lawsuit is Case No: 3:15-cv-03995-LB in the U.S. District Court Northern District of California.

Essure Complications

When Essure hit the market more than a decade ago, the permanent form of female birth control was considered a major innovation for women who didn’t want to have more children. However, serious side effects have prompted an FDA investigation.

Essure birth control is manufactured by Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals. It received FDA fast-track clearance in 2002, because it offered the first alternative to surgical sterilization and promised a quick recovery. It is the only non hormonal birth control option that doesn’t require a skin incision for women who want permanent birth control.

Soft flexible inserts are placed into the fallopian tubes, which carry the eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. After about three months, tissue forms around the inserts. The build-up of tissue creates a barrier that keeps sperm from reaching the eggs, preventing conception.

A total of 943 reports of adverse events related to Essure complications were reported from its approval through Oct. 25, 2013.

Women who have been harmed by the Essure birth control device are urging the FDA to take it off the market and warn the public about its potentially serious side effects. Several have pursued Essure lawsuits, claiming the device seriously injured them.

In total, the FDA has received more than 4,000 reports of serious complications related to the device.

Essure Lawsuits

Women who receive an Essure birth control implant for pregnancy prevention may be at risk for side effects like device fracture, migration and perforation of internal organs. If you or a loved one has taken Essure and experienced severe side effects, you may be eligible to file an Essure lawsuit.