Mirena is an intrauterine device (IUD), which is widely recognized as one of the most reliable forms of birth control.

Bayer introduced the Mirena IUD in 2000, aggressively promoting the IUD as a hassle-free form of birth control.

However, a growing number of women and their doctors have reported complications with the device and a new study suggests that women who have a first-degree relative diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis should not consider an IUD.

New research findings, which were presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in Boston, examined the correlation between rheumatoid arthritis antibodies and the use of varying contraceptive implants.

After the blood levels of 976 women who had a history of rheumatoid arthritis were examined, leaders of the study found an increased risk of the disease in IUD users, compared to those opting for alternative contraceptives. Women who used birth control pills were at a decreased likelihood of developing the disease, according to the report.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation of the joints and typically affects women between the ages of 40-60 years old. Unlike osteoarthritis, which affects the bone, rheumatoid arthritis typically targets the lining of the small joints, such as the ones in the hands and feet.

It is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the body’s immune system will see its own tissues as a threat, and attack them.
 With rheumatoid arthritis, the immune cells cause irritation in the synovium, the tissue that lines the joints.
 This can damage the cartilage, causing bones to rub against one another.

The inflammation can also lead to excess fluid in the joint, affecting the bonds between the bones as the lining expands. Complications of rheumatoid arthritis include osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, heart problems and lung disease.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Generally, rheumatoid arthritis starts out in the small joints. Over time however, it can affect the larger joints, such as the ankles, knees, elbows, hips and shoulders. Most of the time, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are symmetrical — they tend to affect the same joint on both sides of the body.

Common signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:

• Warmth, tenderness and swelling of the joints
• Stiffness in the morning or after long period of sitting
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Weight Loss
• Firm bumps under the skin of the arms (rheumatoid nodules)

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect people differently. In some patients, the condition will worsen rapidly, while in others symptoms may take years to fully develop. Patients may alternate between “flares” — periods where symptoms intensify — and remission, where symptoms fade.

Mirena IUD Lawsuits

Aside from its possible link to rheumatoid arthritis, thousands of women have alleged other complications stemming from use of IUDs like Mirena.

One of the most common complaints is that the implant can allegedly migrate outside the uterus, where it was originally inserted, and into other parts of the body. This may result in uterine perforations, ectopic pregnancy, infection, organ damage and other Mirena side effects that may ultimately be irreparable.

Given these risks, more than 1,200 plaintiffs have accused the contraceptive’s manufacturer, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, of being negligent in designing, manufacturing and marketing Mirena, which is now used by more than 2 million women in the United States.