A North Carolina woman has recently filed a Mirena lawsuit against Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals (Bayer) claiming the pharmaceutical company used deceptive tactics to market the Mirena IUD and misled consumers and the medical community of Mirena’s potential risks and serious complications.

Plaintiff Jessie F. had the Mirena IUD implanted in December 2011 and claims that Bayer’s defective design of the Mirena IUD caused the device to migrate from her uterus to her large bowel area. As a result, Jessie had to undergo laparoscopic surgical removal of the Mirena IUD in March 2013 due to the Mirena IUD migration.

The Mirena IUD lawsuit also accuses Bayer of “negligently continuing to manufacture, market, advertise, and distribute Mirena after Defendants knew or should have known of its adverse effects.” Jessie is also seeking for her case to be included in the multidistrict litigation (MDL) currently pending in the United States District Court for the District of New York (In re Mirena IUD Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2434).

Mirena Complications

Mirena was approved by the FDA in 2000 as a contraceptive device and in 2009 was approved for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding for women who prefer an IUD as their method of birth control.

The Mirena IUD is a T-shaped device that is implanted directly into the uterus and can remain in place for up to five years. It works by slowly releasing levonorgestrel, a synthetic hormone to prevent pregnancy and to treat heavy menstrual bleeding. Levonorgestrel is a hormone commonly used in combined oral contraceptives.

However, the Mirena birth control device has been associated with uterine perforation and other serious complications. As of June 30, 2012, the FDA has received 45,697 reports of serious Mirena injuries.

Mirena injuries can be extremely painful, and may impact the lives of victims and their families for years or more. Mirena complications may include uterine perforation, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cysts, and irregular bleeding. Women who have become pregnant while using Mirena may suffer a miscarriage and their fertility can even be put at risk.

Mirena Lawsuits

More than 70,000 reports of Mirena complications have been filed with FDA since 2000. Lawsuits like Jessie’s filed against Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Mirena’s manufacturer, claim that the company failed to disclose and warn of the health hazards and Mirena risks. Mirena IUD lawsuits are being filed by women who suffered device migration, uterine perforation, and other injuries associated with serious Mirena side effects.

Jessie is seeking compensatory, statutory, actual and punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees for Bayer’s alleged reckless disregard for the health and welfare of not only herself but also the safety of current and potential Mirena users. The filed complaint indicates a demand for a jury trial for this case.

Her Mirena IUD Lawsuit is Case No. 5:15-cv-00030-RLV-DSC, in the U.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina, Statesville Division.