Patients who undergo transvaginal mesh implantation for pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence may be at risk for developing TVT mesh erosion symptoms should complications develop after surgery.

What is Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

Muscles in the pelvic region are tasked with the job of supporting organs inside the abdomen. Over time, and with influences like childbirth or abdominal surgery, these muscles may weaken. Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) occurs when these muscles weaken to the point that they allow pelvic organs to descend into the vagina.

A related condition is stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Women with this condition may experience incontinence during moments of physical exertion like exercise, or even just when laughing or sneezing.

To remedy pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence, surgeons a few years back began adapting surgical techniques and materials that were originally developed to repair hernias. Mesh implants used in hernia repair turned out to be effective for supporting displaced pelvic organs in women with pelvic organ prolapse.

In the mid-1990s, companies began producing surgical mesh and tape implants specifically for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. These implants, some of which are known as tension-free vaginal tape or TVT, compensate for the failing pelvic muscles, providing support for the surrounding organs.

But as it turns out, leaving a polyester or polypropylene mesh inside a person’s body doesn’t always come without complications. After being implanted with these devices, some patients suffer from erosion, in which the mesh wears into nearby soft tissue.

In a 2011 communication, the FDA noted that erosion of mesh through the vagina is the single most commonly reported mesh-related complication of mesh implantation surgeries.

TVT mesh that was designed and intended to hold its shape and position may actually shrink, migrate out of place, or break into pieces. Shrinking can cause pain and discomfort to patients. Even worse, fragments of broken mesh create a risk of cutting or perforating surrounding organs.

TVT Mesh Erosion Symptoms to Watch For

Patients who have suffered from erosion following TVT mesh implantation have reported a few different signs and symptoms. Erosion into the urinary tract can lead to pain, particularly during urination, and it may result in recurring urinary tract infections.

Erosion into the vagina can make sex painful and in some cases impossible. Erosion may also alter the position of the mesh until it becomes externally visible. Some women also report spasms or a poking sensation inside their abdomen.

Treatment for TVT mesh erosion symptoms may require surgery to remove the mesh. But removing implanted mesh isn’t always easy, as new tissue can grow into and around the mesh. Some cases may require more than one surgery. In more complicated cases, pieces of mesh or the entire mesh itself may be unremovable.

Even if removal relieves TVT mesh erosion symptoms, the original symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence may return, sometimes even worse than they were before the original implantation.

Many patients who suffer from TVT mesh complications say they were not properly informed about the associated risks by the manufacturers of these products.

Tens of thousands of women have initiated TVT mesh lawsuits against manufacturers like Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, claiming that these companies withheld vital safety information from patients and failed to produce a reasonably safe product.

If you or someone you love suffered injury from vaginal mesh erosion, you may be able to file a legal claim against the manufacturer. A medical device lawyer can answer your questions and help you decide on a course of action.