The birth control implants known as Essure coils have allegedly caused severe complications in thousands of women. One woman who claims she was affected by side effects recently filed a lawsuit against the Bayer Co. in Pennsylvania.

Completely trusting in the advertising and warranty provided by the defendant, plaintiff Eileen S. says she had Essure birth control placed in mid-January 2009. According to her lawsuit, she suffered from multiple physical problems after the birth control implant was placed.

Eileen indicated that unusual menstrual periods along with ongoing breakthrough bleeding, pain and cramping became part of her daily life after receiving Essure. Additionally, the plaintiff alleges that she started to have migraine headaches often and pain with sexual intercourse.

How Do Essure Birth Control Implants Work?

According to the Mayo Clinic, Essure coils were designed for use as permanent birth control implants. Essure works by encouraging a barrier of scar tissue to form in the fallopian tubes around each metal and fiber implant.

The degree of scar tissue development necessary to prevent pregnancy can take different amounts of time after implantation and ranges from three to six months.

During this occlusion time, a patient is encouraged to rely upon another means to prevent pregnancy. A follow-up test using a hysteroscope and contrast agent helps to confirm this scar tissue development prior to sole reliance upon this method.

Problems, Problems, Everywhere

Bayer Co. announced mid-summer last year, according to WebMD, that it would discontinue sales of Essure coils as of Dec. 31, 2018.

While this is a bittersweet victory for the thousands of women that say they have suffered as a result of this medical device, the manufacturer has not yet acknowledged any wrongdoing. Rather, it pins the reason for this decision upon a narrowing market for the birth control device whose sales supposedly cannot be maintained.

Users of the coils have publicly claimed that the device has migrated out of their fallopian tubes and even perforated their uterus, bowels, and other organs, causing severe pain. Others have indicated that the nickel in the coils has broken down and caused an autoimmune reaction.

Women have aired their complaints on a Facebook page dedicated to getting the attention of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and getting the product off the market. Some 37,000 members of the page ultimately did get the attention of the company, as well as the FDA.

The Bayer Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-05359-BMS in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.