Plaintiff DeCora M. filed a Mirena IUD lawsuit against Bayer pharmaceuticals in Kentucky, alleging a hormone used in the birth control device caused her to suffer permanent neurological injury. DeCora’s lawsuit is just one of thousands of Mirena lawsuits filed in federal court against Bayer pharmaceuticals.

DeCora alleges that after the intrauterine device was successfully inserted by her physician, she began experiencing severe headaches coupled with nausea, dizziness, and vision problems. After visiting her eye doctor who referred her to a neurologist, DeCora was diagnosed with a neurological condition known as pseudotumor cerebri or idiopathic intracranial hypertension (PTC/IIH).

PTC/IIH is a condition that develops in the skull when a person’s cerebrospinal fluid builds up and is not released or absorbed at the proper rate. It is often described as a condition that acts like a brain tumor but is not. Symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri and idiopathic intracranial hypertension typically include severe migraines, double vision, temporary blindness, and other visual deficiencies. These problems are a result of increased pressure on the optic nerve. Although PTC/IIH is reversible in some patients, it is irreversible in others. For patients suffering from permanent injury, treatment is focused on halting further vision loss.

DeCora alleges in the Mirena IUD lawsuit that after being diagnosed, her neurologist started her on medication to help manage her PTC/IIH. But the medication was ineffective and DeCora had to undergo a spinal tap to help manage her symptoms. Eventually her Mirena IUD was removed.

In the Mirena IUD lawsuit, DeCora alleges there is a known link between exposure to levonorgestrel, the hormone Mirena uses to prevent pregnancy and pseudotumor cerebri. She states she chose to use Mirena after relying on the drug information that Bayer Pharmaceuticals provides to all potential users in its Mirena Patient Information Booklet. The Mirena lawsuit claims the information provided by Bayer was inadequate and the plaintiff never would have used the birth control had she been fully informed of all potential Mirena IUD complications.

DeCora is suing Bayer based on consumer protection laws, including claims for negligence, design defect, strict liability, and negligent and fraudulent misrepresentation. She requesting a jury trial and is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.

Overview of Mirena IUD Lawsuits

Mirena is an intrauterine form of birth control that can prevent pregnancy for up to 5 years. The Mirena IUD (intrauterine device) is placed in a woman’s uterus, where it releases a progestin hormone called levonorgestrel. This hormone prevents any sperm from fertilizing an egg. It is used by over 2 million American women and 15 million women worldwide.

Over 2,000 Mirena IUD lawsuits have been filed against Bayer pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Mirena. Bayer is accused of minimizing many of the serious potential sides effects and complications that can occur while using the IUD. The women filing Mirena lawsuits claim that they never would have chosen to use Mirena had they been fully informed of all the potential complications.

Some of the Mirena IUD complications associated with these Mirena lawsuits include: pelvic pain, weight gain, infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, perforation of the uterus or cervix, intrauterine pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, infertility and pseudotumor cerebri or idiopathic intracranial hypertension (PTC/IIH).

This Mirena IUD lawsuit is Case No. 3:14-cv-00398-TBR, filed in the U.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky.