Across America, women are reporting suffering severe Essure birth control complications, with several women already filing legal action against the manufacturer.

What is Essure Birth Control?

Essure is a non-hormonal permanent birth control device for women. The Essure contraceptive method consists of two coils made of plastic and metal placed directly in the fallopian tubes, which eventually completes the act of female sterilization.

After a few months, tissue develops around the metal coils that results in blocking conception. Due to its non-invasive nature, Essure is advertised to be safer than traditional tubal ligation and is popular for being one of the only female sterilization methods which does not require surgery.

In fact, when Essure was released into the market from its original manufacturer Conceptus, it was hailed as a breakthrough contraceptive method for female sterilization methods.

Unfortunately, a number of women have reported suffering severe Essure complications, with the FDA indicating that over 4,500 injury reports have been filed since its release. Essure was approved by the FDA in 2002 and is now manufactured by Bayer HealthCare as a non-surgical and non-hormonal form of permanent birth control.

The product’s innovative method had earned it fast-track approval from the FDA, but a number of women have complained that the side effects were never properly evaluated.

Women injured by the permanent birth control product, complained of various Essure complications including: bloating, rashes, allergic reactions, excessive bleeding, organ perforation, pelvic pain, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy.

Essure Lawsuit Allegations

A number of these women who experienced Essure complications, have complained that Bayer did not adequately describe the risks attached to the device, taking to social media platforms to campaign against the birth control device.

Even consumer advocate Erin Brockovich is helping lead a campaign, aiming to have Essure birth control recalled. Along with thousands of patients, Brockovich stated that Essure never should have received approval from the FDA because of how dangerous it is.

One Essure lawsuit has recently been filed against Bayer, accusing the company of concealing information and misrepresenting the permanent birth control product. Pennsylvania plaintiff Melda S. claimed that the Essure coils had allegedly migrated into her uterus, which forced her into undergoing a hysterectomy.

Melda had the Essure coils implanted for female sterilization purposes in May 2013, and soon began experiencing painful side effects. The complications mentioned in the Essure lawsuit include: skin blisters, severe abdominal pain, hair loss, weight gain, and severe bleeding.

Melda had to be hospitalize multiple times for these injuries, but eventually had to undergo surgery to remove the Essure coils from her uterus. If she had known of the risks associated with the Essure birth control product, Melda never would have opted for the contraceptive.

The Essure lawsuit claims that the marketing claims exaggerated the product’s abilities, with Bayer claiming Essure to be “the most effective permanent birth control available – even more effective than tying your tubes or a vasectomy”.

Overall Melda claims that Bayer focused on the Essure benefits, but did not adequately explain the side effects. Melda’s Essure lawsuit is also suing the company for negligence, strict liability, and unfair trade practices.