As Mirena Grows in Popularity, So Do the Lawsuits
By Christina Drury
Over the past several years, more women have turned to long-term contraceptives in the forms of intrauterine devices – also known as IUDs. This allows a woman to have intercourse without having to use short-term contraceptives such as birth control pills or condoms. One popular brand of IUD is known as Mirena, which has been in the market for over a dozen years. With the number of women using this device ever increasing, it appears that the number of Mirena injury lawsuits being filed due to its numerous side effects is growing as well.
History of Mirena
Mirena was first approved for use as an IUD by the FDA in 2000. Since that point, the manufacturer – Bayer – has spent tens of millions of dollars in advertising, targeting women who are sexually active, yet not wanting to conceive. Mirena is not simply a device that is planted inside the uterus; it contains levonorgestrel – a synthetic hormone that prevents the ovulation cycle from occurring in some months. Ovulation still occurs in many women, but conception is prevented in the fallopian tubes by the device.
In 2009, Bayer defined their demographic audience and started directing their advertising methods toward the “busy mom.” Claims that Mirena could “improve a woman’s sex life” and “make her look and feel great” garnered the attention of the FDA who began berating the manufacturer for overstating the product’s efficacy.
Side Effects of Mirena
Since Mirena’s inception as a means of birth control, there have been a steadily increasing number of Mirena injury lawsuits filed due to side effects that are caused by the IUD. Minor, yet unwanted, side effects of Mirena include:
* Mood swings
* Headaches
* Development of ovarian cysts
* Abdominal Pain
* Pelvic Pain
* Depression
Even more daunting is the fact that the Mirena IUD can perforate a hole in the uterus wall and imbed itself. In some cases, it manages to damage other internal organs as well as cause scarring and infections. In fact, the most commonly reported side effects of Mirena include:
* Expulsion of device
* Dislocation of the device
* Vaginal Hemorrhaging
In 6% of the cases, the women were hospitalized or had to undergo surgery to have the device removed after it failed to stay in place.
FDA Crackdown on Mirena Advertising
Advertising is a core necessity for manufacturers to get their products in the hands of their target demographic. If Bayer had stayed within the realm of Mirena’s efficacy, the FDA would not have had to start cracking down on the manufacturer. Instead, the FDA warned against embellishing and called on the results of a study that indicated that at least 5% of women who used Mirena were reported in clinical trials to have a decreased libido. In addition, it caused a series of unwanted and unknown side effects – some of which required hospitalization or surgery.
If you or a loved one has been injured while using the Mirena IUD, you can see how to take further action on our Mirena IUD Injury Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation Page. It is important to understand your rights and possibly be awarded compensation for any pain and suffering that may be a direct result of the usage of Mirena.
Updated December 4th, 2012
{loadposition content_postads}
All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
Legal help for mental harm caused by social media addiction in young users
May 6, 2026 | social media
One thought on As Mirena Grows in Popularity, So Do the Lawsuits
Worried about the device being lost, because at one time
the string was visible now it is not. And I have had infections recently. And some cramping with heavy bleeding.