Dealing with embarrassing symptoms such as urinary stress incontinence or living with a painful and concerning condition of pelvic organ prolapse can take their toll on a woman. When she finally gains the courage to approach her doctor on these subjects, a woman may feel incredibly relieved to understand that these conditions are not uncommon and that a treatment exists.

One common treatment for urinary stress incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse is the use of a medical product known as transvaginal mesh. This product is also referred to as simply vaginal mesh or pelvic mesh. Transvaginal tape (TVT) and bladder slings also refer to similar products.

Women who undergo surgery using any type of vaginal mesh are typically informed by their doctors that procedures using this technology are less invasive than older forms of surgery that were previously used to treat the conditions. However, many women who believe they were not properly informed of the risks associated with this procedure have gone on to file a vaginal mesh lawsuit.

An increasing number of women are reporting complications resulting from vaginal mesh implantation. Some women report initially favorable surgical outcomes that later deteriorate and lead to problems. Other women suffer vaginal mesh complications shortly after returning home from surgery.

Complications related to vaginal mesh include:

• Chronic pelvic pain
• Mesh erosion, causing it to degrade or fragment
• Bleeding in the area of the vaginal mesh implantation
• Shrinking or contracting of the vaginal mesh material
• Chronic infections
• Perforation of nearby organs and blood vessels
• Problems with urination
• Failure of the device to correct pelvic organ prolapse
• Scarring in the pelvic and vaginal regions
• Injury suffered by male sexual partners

Once these problems develop, typically the only way to treat them is for the woman to undergo a revision surgery to remove the initial mesh product that was implanted and to perform a more traditional surgery in order to address the underlying conditions.

Last year, in response to all of the adverse event reports surrounding vaginal mesh products, the FDA issued a stronger warning about vaginal mesh, classifying it as a high-risk device for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. Previously, vaginal mesh was considered a medium-risk device.

Filing a Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit

Many women who have had to undergo a revision surgery as a result of vaginal mesh complications have gone on to file a vaginal mesh lawsuit against the product’s manufacturers.

Typical allegations in a vaginal mesh lawsuit claim that the product was defectively designed and manufactured, that the manufacturer failed to appropriately warn of potential complications, and that the manufacturer breached warranties related to the product.

Vaginal mesh lawsuits can help to recover damages related to medical expenses such as revision surgeries and for other damages including physical and emotional pain and suffering, loss of companionship with the spouse, loss of enjoyment of life, lost earnings and earning capacity, punitive damages designed to punish the manufacturer, and more.

An attorney familiar with the intricacies of filing of vaginal mesh lawsuit is available to review your case for free and can provide you with confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your legal options.