Bayer HealthCare manufacturers Essure, a non-surgical and permanent type of birth control.

Essure implants are a pair of polyester-lined metal coils. During implantation, these coils are inserted into the fallopian tubes. Over the course of a few months, these coils stimulate the growth of tissue that blocks the fallopian tubes and prevents conception. In a follow-up visit about three months after implantation, a doctor’s exam confirms whether or not the implantation has been effective.

Essure was initially manufactured by Conceptus before it was purchased by Bayer. When first introduced, Essure seemed to be a useful alternative for women seeking non-surgical permanent sterilization.

Essure Birth Control Side Effects

However, there are several Essure birth control side effects that can develop after implantation. And although Essure’s warning label lists several potential and adverse health effects, such as the possibility of the device slipping out or puncturing the uterus, critics say the product information does not adequately warn about other serious Essure birth control side effects.

Many women have complained of Essure birth control side effects that include: organ perforation, pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, bloating, rashes, excessive bloating, and allergic reactions.

Now that hundreds of thousands of women have chosen to use Essure as a contraceptive and permanent birth control option, Essure birth control side effects have been the subject of more than 4,500 serious reports filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Additionally, renowned consumer advocate, Erin Brockovich, has helped lead a campaign in recalling Essure. She contends that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should have never approved the Essure coils. She, and thousands of women across the United States are demanding the removal of the Essure birth control from U.S. market.

Essure was approved by the FDA in 2002. And according to NBC News, many women who have suffered from Essure complications are now lobbying health care regulators to take Essure off the market.

On the other hand, healthcare organizations like Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Physicians for Reproductive Health, have come to the defense Essure.

In a joint statement offered to NBC News, these organizations say that “[t]oday, Essure is the only permanent contraception that can be performed non-surgically, allowing women to avoid potential complications associated with surgery and general anesthesia, especially those with certain medical conditions.” These organizations say they “urge the FDA to recognize that restricting women’s access to certain methods of birth control will limit their choices and, in some cases, expose them to additional risk.”

Many affected Essure patients have filed lawsuits against the drug’s manufacturer, Bayer, alleging that it knew of the Essure birth control side effects but failed to announce them. These patients further allege that the approval of the drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was based on “questionable studies,” and the drug should not have been sold or approved without further study.