Essure®, a permanent birth control method manufactured by Bayer HealthCare, has become the subject of multiple lawsuits due to alleged complications caused by the product or its incorrect placement. Essure® is a permanent birth control method that results in sterilization for women. Unlike many sterilization methods such as tubal ligation or hysterectomy, Essure® does not rely on surgery to produce results. Instead, Essure® metal coils are placed inside a woman's uterus and Fallopian tubes using a non-surgical procedure. Over the course of a few weeks, Essure® coils generate scar tissue that blocks fertilization and prevents future pregnancies. Essure® was developed by Conceptus Inc., which is a subsidiary of Bayer AG. It gained FDA approval for use in the United States on November 4, 2002. Initial studies showed that Essure might have the advantage of being more cost-effective than laproscopic sterilization surgery such as tubal ligation. However, in the decade after its approval by the FDA, reports began to surface of high failure rates and other serious side effects from the use of this device. Women reported chronic pain, bleeding and even ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages. In 2013, Erin Brockovich, the famous advocate attorney, began hosting a website where women can share information about their experiences with Essure®. Recently, the first lawsuits were filed against the manufacturer for failure to inform patients of risks associated with Essure® and failure to properly train physicians in the placement of this device.Learn More About Essure® and Health Risks
History of Essure®
Lawsuits Regarding Essure®
The first lawsuit regarding Essure® was filed recently in Philadelphia civil court. This lawsuit alleges, among other things, that Bayer deliberately misled women who chose to be implanted with Essure® and violated the conditions of approval from the Food and Drug Administration or FDA. The complaint states that Essure® should never have been sold.So far, the FDA has received thousands of complaints about problems associated with Essure®, including: Abdominal cramping, bloating and excessive bleeding Skin rashes and auto-immune disorders Chronic and debilitating pain, particularly in the pelvic region Cases of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, which can be life-threateningIn the worst cases, women have been hospitalized or forced to undergo surgery to repair the damage caused by Essure®.
If you have been injured due to Essure® implants, it is important that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering and other issues surrounding your Essure® implants.