Illinois Woman Sues Bayer Over Mirena IUD Injuries

Illinois Woman Sues Bayer Over Mirena IUD Injuries

By Amanda Antell

Illinois plaintiff Melissa Stabenow is suing Bayer Pharmaceuticals for the injuries she allegedly sustained from their birth control product, the Mirena IUD. Stabenow had the device implanted into her to be used as a long-term birth control method.

The plaintiff had the Mirena IUD implanted into her on April 19, 2011. The procedure was done under typical circumstances by her physician, and she suffered no complications initially, according to the Mirena lawsuit. Despite several follow-up appointments which showed the IUD was still in place, it was discovered on March 30, 2013, that the IUD migrated into her abdomen. Stabenow underwent IUD removal surgery to remove the device on April 5, 2013. 

At no point in time did Bayer contact the plaintiff or her physician about this possible occurrence, as well as other Mirena IUD complications the plaintiffs could have faced, the lawsuit says. As a result, the plaintiff suffered severe and permanent injuries, and has incurred large medical costs. Due to the primary hormone used in the Mirena IUD, the plaintiff is also at risk for further complications, including non-cancerous cysts and ectopic pregnancy.

Stabenow states in the Mirena IUD lawsuit that Bayer should be held accountable for her injuries because had she known about the risk of the IUD migrating after implantation she would have not used the product. Stabenow is suing Bayer for negligence and for being directly responsible for manufacturing, selling, distributing, and marketing a defective product. Additional charges being brought forth in the Mirena lawsuit are negligence, concealing information, misrepresenting a product, and false advertising.

Overview of Mirena IUD Complications

The Mirena IUD was approved to be sold in the United States in December 2000. It is a long-term birth control method manufactured by Bayer that is designed to last up to five years, and is one of the most popular birth control products in America. As of now, more than 15 million women worldwide use the Mirena IUD, with most praising it for its convenience and efficiency. However, Bayer has recently come under fire for Mirena due to the heavy amount of injury reports submitted to the FDA, and because the company admitted they are not entirely sure how the Mirena IUD works.

The Mirena IUD is a t-shaped intrauterine device that is directly inserted into the uterus to have the contraceptive hormones to be directly released. The main component of the IUD is the newly invented progesterone “levonorgestrel,” which is located on the end points of the device. Due to the fact this hormone is so new, there is very little scientific information about it, leading many medical experts to believe it may be more dangerous to women than initially thought. 

Regardless of what the actual danger the hormone presents, the crux of this Mirena lawsuit and others is that the current warning labels on the Mirena IUD are inadequate. Nowhere on the warning label does it describe Mirena IUD migration, perforation, ectopic pregnancies, or the other complications that have been reported. 

As a result, hundreds of women from across the country are suing Bayer for the injuries they sustained from Mirena, each alleging that they were not given any warning of these potential Mirena IUD complications.

As of now, Stabenow’s case is still pending, and she is seeking damages for medical compensation, negligence, and other punitive damages.

The case is Melissa Stabenow v. Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Case No. 2:13-cv-04880-SDW-MCA, in the United States District Court of New Jersey. 

Obtain a Free Mirena IUD Lawsuit Review 

If you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of a Mirena IUD injury, you have legal options. Please visit the Mirena IUD injury Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned Mirena lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process at no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The Mirena lawyers working this investigation do not get paid until you do.