A California couple has recently filed a Mirena IUD lawsuit against Bayer Pharmaceuticals, alleging that plaintiff Hilary W. suffered personal injuries as a result of using Mirena, which she says is a defective and dangerous birth control product.

Hillary’s husband, Jeffery, also joined the Mirena lawsuit as co-plaintiff bringing a loss of consortium claim, or a claim for loss of spousal intimacy.

According to the Mirena IUD lawsuit, Hillary began using the Mirena IUD when she had it inserted by her doctor in October 2012. Although the device was successfully inserted it eventually migrated out of the uterus, causing the IUD string to become coiled and concealed. In September 2014, the Mirena IUD had to be surgically removed due to its migration.

Mirena is an intrauterine device used by many women worldwide as a form of birth control that must be inserted by a healthcare professional during an office visit. The T-shaped device has a polyethylene frame which contains a reservoir that releases a daily dose of levonorgesrel.

Mirena was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2000. Currently over 2 million women use Mirena in the United States and over 15 million women use this form of birth control worldwide.

Although medical professionals are uncertain about exactly how Mirena works, it is believed that the hormone may thicken cervical mucus, shrink the uterine lining, inhibit sperm movement, and reduce sperm survival to prevent pregnancy.

The device is inserted within seven days after menstruation begins. The Mirena IUD can be used up to five years before it needs to be replaced.

Complications associated with taking Mirena include pelvic pain, infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, perforation of the uterus or cervix, intrauterine pregnancy, infertility, and/or ectopic pregnancy.

Overview of Mirena Marketing

Although Mirena packaging recommends the device be used by women who have had at least one child, it does not warn about potential risks of spontaneous migration. Bayer Pharmaceuticals is also accused of improper marketing techniques and overstating the efficacy of the prescription birth control.

In March 2009, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communications warned Bayer Pharmaceuticals that their marketing material misbranded the medication in violation of FDA regulations.

Advertisements for Mirena claimed that women using Mirena would experience increased levels of intimacy, romance, and emotional satisfaction with their sexual partners.

In actuality, clinical trials found that approximately 15 percent of clinical patients experienced a decreased libido. These same promotional presentations also suggested that taking Mirena would help women look and feel great, even though Mirena side effects include weight gain, acne, breast pain and tenderness.

Mirena IUD Lawsuits

Nearly 2,000 Mirena lawsuits have been filed against Bayer Pharmaceuticals. These Mirena lawsuits allege claims for defective manufacturing, design defect, negligence, strict product liability, breach of warranty, and negligent and fraudulent misrepresentation.

Many of these women hope to receive compensation for past and future medical bills as well as the pain and suffering they allegedly endured due to using the Mirena birth control device.

The Mirena IUD Lawsuit is Case No. 15-CV-0098-BAS-JMA, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.