A New Hampshire woman recently filed a Mirena side effects lawsuit, alleging that the popular birth control device caused her to suffer from a condition known as pseudotumor cerebri (PTC).

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff, Cynthia G., was implanted with a Mirena IUD device in May 2014. Over the next three years, however, Cynthia experienced a number of Mirena side effects, including severe migraines, eye pain, photosensitivity, other eye problems, nausea, and dizziness, the lawsuit claims.

Cynthia underwent a number of therapies to alleviate these pains and problems, without being given a definitive diagnosis.

In April 2017, Cynthia finally had her Mirena IUD removed. By no small coincidence, all of her symptoms — eye pain, migraines, nausea, and more — suddenly stopped after three years of persisting. She then filed a lawsuit against Bayer Healthcare, claiming that her symptoms were Mirena side effects directly caused by the device.

The lawsuit was filed on multiple counts, including negligence, design defect, failure to warn, strict liability, breach of express and implied warranties, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent misrepresentation, and others.

What is Mirena?

Mirena is a relatively new birth control device, only approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just in 2009.

Mirena is a small, flexible IUD product implanted in the uterus as a long-acting form of birth control. The Mirena device slowly releases a birth control hormone called levonorgesterel into the uterus over time. Mirena uses a lower level of hormones than birth control pills taken orally, because the hormones for IUDs are released directly into the uterus. Mirena is manufactured by Bayer.

Since the 2015 study, some consumers have filed Mirena lawsuits against Bayer Pharmaceuticals for failing to warn in their advertising or labeling of the potential risk of developing serious Mirena side effects like pseudotumor cerebri because of the device.

Mirena Side Effects: Pseudotumor Cerebri

Any medical device or medication will come with certain side effects. However, the risk of pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is not included on the warning label for the product. Mirena has been linked with PTC via reports and studies.

Pseudotumor cerebri, which means “false brain tumor,” is so named for being connected to the symptoms of brain tumors without actually involving real tumors. PTC is a serious condition that is characterized by an abnormal and potentially dangerous amount of cerebrospinal pressure in a person’s skull. In many cases, medications can reduce the damaging pressure, but in other cases, surgery is needed.

Mirena side effects like pseudotumor cerebri may be able to affect a large number of patients, given the popularity of Mirena and other IUD devices. Approximately 150 million people across the globe use IUDs.

If you or someone you love has used Mirena or a similar IUD and has suffered from Mirena side effects like psuedotumor cerebri as a result, you may be able to file a Mirena side effects lawsuit.

While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by Mirena side effects, it can help to alleviate the financial burden of medical expenses and lost wages.

The Mirena Side Effects Lawsuit is Case No. 1:17-cv-00192-LM, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire.