A growing number of women all over the world are filing lawsuits against medical device manufacturers over serious vaginal mesh complications.

What is a Vaginal Mesh Implant?

A vaginal mesh implant (sometimes called a bladder sling or, more formally, urogynaecological surgical mesh) is used to treat various conditions in women. Among these conditions are stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse, which occurs when the connective tissue attaching the vagina and uterus to the pelvis gives out. These conditions generally occur following a hysterectomy, menopause, or childbirth, and are thus a substantial risk for women across the globe. To treat it, many are implanted with vaginal mesh, which is made by a variety of medical device manufacturers.

However, vaginal mesh complications with these implants have led thousands of women to file vaginal mesh lawsuits.

One such vaginal mesh lawsuit is a class action involving more than 700 women in Australia, who filed a complaint against vaginal mesh manufacturer Ethicon, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson. This vaginal mesh lawsuit is scheduled for trial on July 4, according to an article on BuzzFeed News.

One woman involved in the lawsuit described the serious vaginal mesh complications she’s been left with because of the implant. Janelle told BuzzFeed News she had a vaginal mesh implant inserted in September 2014 which has caused “excruciating” and “life-defining” pain. “Sometimes it is so aggravating that it is teeth clenching,” Janelle said. Her vaginal mesh complications prevent her from having sex and even wearing underwear, and she is unable to sleep without painkillers and a pillow keeping her legs apart.

But Janelle had no idea that such serious vaginal mesh complications were possible. “[The doctor] suggested they put the bladder sling in at the same time as my hysterectomy, so it was a gift to myself to change my life so I didn’t have to wear pads or worry about [the urinary incontinence],” Janelle told BuzzFeed News.

Far from the procedure being harmless, Janelle began experiencing pain almost directly after the operation. “I was raw with pain and I had this feeling that my urine was absolutely hot and scalding,” Janelle said.

Eventually, the hip implant eroded through her vaginal wall, and she underwent partial device removal surgery. This surgery hasn’t taken away her vaginal mesh complications. To this day, she still experiences severe pain and is still unable to have sex. But full removal surgery of the device would be too expensive— “upwards of $30,000,” Janelle said.

Vaginal Mesh Complications

Patients have reported a slew of vaginal mesh complications associated with nine different vaginal mesh devices made by Ethicon. These vaginal mesh complications include:

• Chronic and constant vaginal pain
• Visceral pain with bowel movements
• Dyspareunia (pain during sex)
• Vaginal bleeding
• Granulation of vaginal tissue
• Pain through the glutes
• Inflammatory reactions
• Offensive discharge
• Incontinence
• Leg weakness
• Hemorrhages

Mesh erosion and organ perforation are some of the most serious concerns facing patients with vaginal mesh implants. Mesh erosion occurs when mesh breaks apart and passes through the vaginal wall, which causes bleeding, severe pain, infection, and even nerve damage. Organ perforation is not a separate complication, but instead is the second stage of mesh erosion. Once the mesh erodes through the vaginal wall, it can perforate other organs with its jagged edge, which can result in permanent damage.

Filing a Lawsuit Over Vaginal Mesh Complications

Thousands of injured parties have already filed vaginal mesh complications lawsuits, and some have won between $10 million and $100 million physical and financial damages.

If you or someone you love has suffered from vaginal mesh complications after being implanted with one of these devices, you may be able to join a class action lawsuit or file a lawsuit of your own. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain caused by vaginal mesh complications, but it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by lost wages and medical expenses.