A recent product liability lawsuit has been filed against Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals (Bayer), alleging the pharmaceutical giant fraudulently misrepresented the Mirena IUD birth control and failed to notify women that using Mirena put them at greater risk of uterine complications, including perforation of the uterine lining and device migration.

Plaintiff Sharon L., an Alaska resident, had the Mirena IUD implanted in May 2012. In her Mirena IUD lawsuit, Sharon alleges Bayer’s defective design of the Mirena IUD has caused her constant pain that stems from the  IUD migrating into her abdominal cavity. The plaintiff was later required to undergo painful abdominal surgery to remove the device in May 2013 due to the birth control product’s spontaneous displacement.

The Mirena IUD lawsuit additionally accuses Bayer of negligence in knowingly producing, selling, and distributing a defective product, alleging that the drug manufacturer failed to conduct adequate pre-marketing testing and concealed the harmful Mirena side effects from consumers and the medical community.

How Does Mirena Work?

Today more than 2 million women in the United States use Mirena, a small, T-shaped device implanted in the uterus by a healthcare provider, to prevent pregnancy. Made of flexible plastic, the IUD releases continuous doses of thelevonorgesterel hormone, commonly found in many oral contraceptives. This hormone thickens the wall of mucus lining the uterus and decreases the motility and survival rates of sperm entering the uterus, thus reducing the chances of pregnancy. By gradually releasing hormones, the device is supposed to prevent pregnancy for up to 5 years.

Mirena IUD Complications

In some women, Mirena can cause serious complications, including life-threatening ectopic pregnancy and another serious condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Perhaps the most disturbing of the complications that may result from use of Mirena involves the IUD’s potential to cause uterine perforations. Perforation of the uterus may cause patients to experience bloating, vomiting, lower abdominal pain, heavy vaginal bleeding and other symptoms, including diminished fertility or the inability to conceive a child.

Bayer’s Deceptive Practices

Many birth control lawsuits allege Mirena’s manufacturer, Bayer, employed deceptive marketing tactics to promote the product to women. According to court reports,Bayer marketed Mirena as a way to “look and feel great,” to women considering using birth control.

This deceptive marketing campaign was brought to light in 2009 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned Bayer against using such unsubstantiated claims in their marketing. The FDA’s response to the Mirena IUD marketing program was that there was no evidence that substantiated these claims, and that the program clearly overstated the efficacy of Mirena, while downplaying the potentially severe Mirena IUD side effects.

Mirena IUD Lawsuits

Sharon L.’s Mirena IUD lawsuit is one of thousands now filed in the United States on behalf of women who allegedly experienced painful Mirena IUD complications and other side effects associated with the birth control device.

The Mirena IUD lawsuit is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorneys’ fees, for Bayer’s allegedly deceptive and reckless practices in misrepresenting and omitting numerous facts about the dangers of the Mirena IUD.

The Mirena IUD Lawsuit is Case No. 1:14-cv-0007-JWS, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.