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Vaginal Mesh Side Effects

The FDA has recently warned that vaginal mesh side effects are “not rare.” Thousands of women have suffered from vaginal mesh erosion, perforation of internal organs, severe pelvic pain, disfigurement of the vagina, and more. These injuries may require multiple surgeries, which still may not cure long-term complications. These side effects may be permanent despite corrective surgery.

What You Can Do & How a Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting vaginal mesh induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by vaginal mesh side effects, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

What is Vaginal Mesh?

Vaginal mesh is also sometimes called transvaginal mesh, pelvic mesh, tape, or sling. Transvaginal mesh is implanted through the vagina, and designed like a hammock or sling to support weakened, sagging pelvic muscles — a complication of pregnancy that affects hundreds of thousands of women.

Vaginal mesh treats two disorders caused by weakened pelvic muscles: Pelvic Organ Prolapse, which occurs when organs protrude into the vagina, and Stress Urinary Incontinence, which occurs when weak muscles allow the urethra to open accidentally.

There are four major manufacturers of transvaginal mesh, now part of the federal Multi-district Litigation (MDL). As of July 2012, there were 650 vaginal mesh lawsuits pending against these manufacturers:

  • C.R. Bard
  • Johnson & Johnson / Ethicon
  • Boston Scientific Corp.
  • American Medical Systems
  • Coloplast

Vaginal Mesh Erosion

The most common serious side effect of vaginal mesh is vaginal mesh erosion. This occurs when the edges of the mesh wear through tissue around the mesh. The mesh may erode tissue until it perforates the vagina, bladder, intestines, blood vessels, or other tissues. The biggest risk is a life-threatening infection.

Vaginal mesh erosion can be a recurrent problem, and many patients require multiple surgeries to remove parts of the mesh, or have the device entirely taken out. Each surgery may require hospitalization, IV therapy, blood transfusions, and drainage of abscesses and/or hematomas.

Unfortunately, even with surgery, patients may still have long-term complications, including permanent disfigurement of the vagina, nerve damage, or pain during sexual intercourse which severely decreases quality of life.

Vaginal Mesh Side Effects

In the FDA’s first Safety Communication regarding vaginal mesh, the agency warned that serious side effects were “not rare.” This communication was updated in 2011 after the agency continued to receive numerous reports of women suffering from the following severe side effects.

Vaginal mesh side effects may include:

  • Pelvic pain
  • Perforation of the vagina, intestines, bladder, blood vessels, or other tissue in the pelvic area
  • Severe scarring from multiple surgeries
  • Disfigurement of the vagina
  • Shortening of the vagina
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • Inability to have sexual intercourse
  • Infection, which may be life-threatening
  • Bleeding, vaginal discharge
  • Incontinence
  • Recurrent pelvic organ prolapse (protruding organs into the vagina)
  • Emotional trauma
  • Neuromuscular problems

Do I have a Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting vaginal mesh induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by vaginal mesh side effects, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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