Thousands of Women File Lawsuits Over Vaginal Mesh Implant Damage

In July 2011, the FDA issued a public warning titled: “Update on Serious Complications Associated with Transvaginal Placement of Surgical Mesh.” This document, among other things, described the side effects that had been occurring from surgical mesh that had been implemented transvaginally in an attempt to correct one or both of the following conditions:

• Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP): A condition where the woman’s reproductive or pelvic organs fall into or through her vaginal opening.
• Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI): A condition where involuntary leakage of urine from a woman’s urethra occurs during physical stress.

Vaginal Mesh Side Effects

Horrible side effects from vaginal mesh implants have occurred to many women who had used one of these implants to correct POP, SUI or other problems.

Erosion of the mesh has been the most common side effect reported, according to the FDA.  The mesh wears through the vaginal mucosa, exposing its rough and uncomfortable surface to the patient and her partner. It often takes multiple repair surgeries to correct this.

Other side effects of vaginal mesh include:

• Pain
• Urinary problems
• Vaginal mesh infection
• Vaginal scarring
• Holes developing in bowel or bladder
• Recurrence of prolapse
• Pain during sexual intercourse, or complete inability to have sexual intercourse

Early Problems with Vaginal Mesh Implants Reported as Early as 1999

Vaginal sling implants are made from synthetic mesh material that is designed as a permanent treatment for POP and SUI. Mesh has many holes within it to allow the body to grow its own tissue into the mesh. The mesh then provides a framework of support for the tissue to follow.

However, synthetic vaginal mesh implants have been the subject of thousands of complaints from women. The first vaginal mesh recall occurred in 1999 over Boston Scientific’s ProteGen Vaginal Sling – only two years after its original release.
The vaginal sling implant was first available in 1997, but was voluntarily recalled by the company in 1999 after the device was determined to be “rushed to market for ?nancial reasons without adequate premarket clinical trials,” according to the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. The ProteGen Sling received thousands of complaints from patients who were implanted with the device.

Despite the recall, many other bladder sling implants and vaginal sling implants have been introduced to the market. Not surprisingly, they too have received thousands of complaints.

More than 1,000 reports of vaginal mesh side effects have been submitted in the last three years, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. After the FDA made the dangers and concerns of vaginal mesh implants public, the number of reports of mesh implant side effects rose dramatically. Between 2008 and 2010, reports of vaginal mesh implant problems reached more than 1,500. The total number of complaints received to date tops 4,000.

If you or a loved one had surgical mesh implanted to treat pelvic organ prolapse, stress urinary incontinence, or any other reason and are currently suffering the side effects, you are not alone. Thousands of women are fighting back, and you should not be excluded from that.

Please visit the Transvaginal Mesh, Vaginal Sling Implant Class Action Lawsuit Investigation to submit your claim for a free legal review. If your claim qualifies for legal action, a specialized vaginal mesh lawyer will get in contact with you immediately. You will be guided through the litigation process with no extra fees or out-of-pocket charge. These vaginal mesh lawyers do not get paid until you do.