The Mirena intrauterine device (IUD) was first approved as a method of birth control by the US Food & Drug Administration in 2000. The Mirena IUD works in two ways: it prevents contact between sperm and egg, and it releases the hormone progestin, which itself prevents pregnancy.
Mirena is a very small, T-shaped device inserted into the uterus by one's doctor or health care professional. It is only recommended for women who have had at least one child, and it can remain in place for as long as five years. In 2009, Mirena became the first intrauterine device FDA approved to treat heavy menstrual bleeding in women who use intrauterine contraception as their means of birth control.
Mirena is manufactured by the pharmaceutical giant Bayer. In 2009, the US government accused Bayer of falsely advertising Mirena as being "low-hormone', a claim that they have subsequently stopped making.
Many women have found that Mirena comes with some unpleasant side effects, which can include:
However, far more serious problems have been experienced by other women using Mirena, problems that can be life-threatening. Chiefly, it has been found that following implant, the Mirena device can either embed itself in the uterus, or migrate from its original position and perforate the uterus. Mirena has also been found to migrate beyond the uterus and into the abdomen, where it can cause severe pain, scarring, infertility, and even death. When this occurs, doctors must use imaging devices and surgically remove the IUD. Some women have needed a total hysterectomy in order to get the device out of their bodies.
Some of the more serious side effects of the Mirena implant include the following:
On account of these problems, Bayer is facing a growing list of lawsuits, both of the personal injury variety as well as class action suits.
The lawsuits aren't only being filed against the manufacturer, they are also being filed against health care professionals.
An example of these lawsuits involves a US woman who is alleging negligence on the part of her medical care team for failing to do imaging on her when she developed an ectopic pregnancy while on Mirena. She went to see her doctor several times, who despite being unable to find the implant, nonetheless did not order scans to find it. As it turns out, the device had somehow made it to her abdomen, causing her serious medical problems.
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