Mirena IUD Complications Allegedly Lead to Surgery for Scores of Women

More than 1,200 women are suing Bayer Pharmaceuticals, alleging that its contraceptive Mirena IUD caused serious complications that, in many cases, required surgical removal of the device.

New Orleans resident Imari Hawkins is the latest woman to take legal action against Bayer. The Mirena lawsuit states that 26-year-old Hawkins was implanted with the Mirena IUD on July 31, 2012. It was inserted by her health care provider at Ochsner Baptist Medical. She reportedly suffered no initial complications during the insertion of the birth control device, according to her Mirena lawsuit. Four months later, however, she experienced severe pain and was informed by her physician that the Mirena IUD had punctured her uterus.

On April 12, 2013, Hawkins underwent laparoscopy surgery to remove the Mirena IUD, which had migrated outside the uterine cavity. Hawkins alleges that the injuries left behind from the initial Mirena IUD perforation, migration, and the resulting medical procedure are painful, permanent and require lifelong medical treatment.

Hawkins filed this Mirena lawsuit because she contends that Bayer knew of the possible injuries and willfully hid this information from her and other consumers. On the device’s packaging, there was no mention of the possibility of penetration and migration of the Mirena IUD after insertion, or of the recent reports of Mirena complications and investigations into the intrauterine device by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Division of Drug Marketing, Advertisement and Communications (DDMAC).

Hawkins alleges in the Mirena lawsuit that Bayer concealed this information “with the intent of defrauding and deceiving Plaintiff, the public in general, and the medical and healthcare community in particular” which demonstrates “a callous, reckless, willful, depraved indifference to health, safety and welfare of the Plaintiff herein.” Hawkins is seeking compensatory damages for the physical injuries and mental anguish suffered from her use of the Mirena IUD.

In light of these events, the Mirena lawsuit charges Bayer with negligence, defective product manufacturing, fraudulent concealment, and misrepresentation of their birth control product.

Overview of Mirena IUD

Mirena was approved by the FDA as a long-term contraceptive device in December 2000. Since then, more than 15 million women worldwide have been implanted with the intrauterine device. According to Bayer’s product packaging, the t-shaped, plastic device releases a synthetic progestin called levonorgestrel into the blood stream meant to “thicken cervical mucus, thin the uterine lining, inhibit sperm movement and reduce sperm survival to prevent pregnancy.” The Mirena IUD is designed to be inserted into a consumer’s uterus within seven days menstruation and to remain in the uterus for up to five years. Mirena’s low-maintenance form of birth control is appealing to many consumers, though only recommended for women who have already had one child.

Mirena Side Effects

According to the court reports, Bayer “has failed to alter their product packaging to reflect the growing number of MedWatch Adverse Event reports related to embedment of and perforation through the uterine lining and/or migration of the IUD through the uterine lining after the period of insertion.”

The FDA and DMMAC reports conclude that Mirena side effects and risks related with the use of the IUD include:

• Weight gain
• Acne
• Breast Pain/Tenderness
• Inter Alia
• Perforation
• Migration
• Ectopic/Intrauterine pregnancy
• Cancer
• Adhesions
• Cysts
• Fetal Injury/Death

Hawkins is not the only consumer seeking justice against Bayer Pharmaceuticals. More than 1,200 Mirena IUD lawsuits have been filed against Bayer for the continued manufacturing and selling of a product it allegedly knew has harmful side effects. As a result, these Mirena IUD lawsuits have been consolidated into a mass tort called In Re: Mirena IUD Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2434, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Join a Free Mirena Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you or a loved one had the Mirena IUD inserted after January 1, 2000 and had to have surgery — or will be required to have surgery — to remove the IUD because it migrated, you may be eligible to take legal action against the manufacturer. Joining a Mirena class action lawsuit or filing an individual Mirena IUD lawsuit may help you recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering and other damages. Obtain a free case evaluation now:

Oops! We could not locate your form.