The Mirena® intrauterine device (IUD) is a T-shaped birth control product meant to be inserted into the uterus for up to five years at a time. The product prevents pregnancy by slowly releasing a hormone that helps prevent egg fertilization by thickening cervical mucus while also thinning the uterine lining and partially suppressing ovulation. Mirena also is approved to treat heavy menstrual bleeding.
Mirena is linked to severe health issues related to pseudotumors—or false brain tumors—and uterine perforation, where the IUD perforates the wall of the uterus. These perforations can occur when the device erodes the wall of the uterus or shifts location spontaneously.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with a pseudotumor or suffered from uterine perforation after using Mirena®, our Arkansas lawyers want to help protect your rights to compensation. Call or contact our product liability attorneys online anytime to get started.
According to an abstract provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, severe lower abdominal pain and abnormal bleeding may be warning signs of a perforation. Other perforation injuries are often discovered during check-up visits.
While perforation may be detected at the time of insertion, some perforations lack symptoms and may not be detected for a long period of time. Delayed detection of a uterine perforation can result in Mirena migrating to other parts of the body, which can cause internal damage and other severe injuries. In some cases, surgery is needed to retrieve the IUD from a patient.
Bayer, the drug’s manufacturer, reports the risk of uterine perforation is between 1/1,000 and 1/10,000 insertions.
However, some women may be at higher risk than others. Bayer advises that placement of Mirena should be performed with care in postpartum women because uterine walls can be softer than usual. Additionally, the risk of perforation has been found to be higher in women who are lactating. Women with fixed retroverted uteruses also may be at higher risk of perforation.
Side effects that can result from a Mirena uterine perforation can include:
Bayer states that perforation of the uterus also may cause the device to be ineffective in preventing pregnancy. Surgical procedures, such as a hysterectomy or laparoscopic surgery, may be necessary to remove the IUD after a perforation injury.
A study published by Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety reports that patients who used Mirena faced an increased risk of pseudotumors, a condition in which pressure around the brain increases. Symptoms of pseudotumors caused by Mirena can be similar to those of brain tumors, including:
In some cases, pseudotumors caused by Mirena may require surgery or spinal tap procedures to correct.
If you or someone you love used Mirena and suffered a pseudotumor or underwent a surgical procedure due to uterine perforation, our law firm would like to speak with you about your injury. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other injury-related expenses. Contact us today for a free case review.
Do not discontinue taking any medications without first consulting your physician.
Mirena® is a registered trademark of the Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and is used here only to identify the product in question.
This law firm is not associated with, sponsored by, or affiliated with Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety, or the U.S. Center for Biotechnology Information.
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