We are personal injury attorneys that help with claims for Mirena IUD injuries in Los Angeles, the surrounding counties, and throughout California.
If you or someone you care about has suffered injuries due to harmful side effects of a Mirena IUD device, you should reach out to our skilled Los Angeles Mirena IUD injury attorneys as soon as possible. Our attorneys have years of experience helping clients who have suffered injuries from medical devices such as the Mirena IUD and we can help you get the financial compensation you deserve.What is the Mirena IUD?
IUD stands for intrauterine device—Mirena is a type of IUD. An IUD device is a form of birth control. The t-shaped IUD device is inserted into the uterus and stops sperm from reaching the uterus to fertilize an egg.How the Mirena IUD Works
As previously mentioned, the Mirena IUD is inserted into the body. It is placed in the uterus and works to prevent pregnancy. It does this by blocking sperm from reaching or fertilizing eggs, as well as preventing sperm from entering the uterus to begin with. The Mirena IUD contains a progestin hormone, levonorgestrel, that is released into the uterus in small amounts.
Many women have turned to the Mirena IUD as a more effective form of birth control. When used properly, it can be over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. Often women prefer this form of birth control over having to take a daily pill. The IUD does not require surgery but can be placed in a regular visit to the doctor and lasts up to 5 years. It also can be removed at any time if the patient wants to become pregnant.
However, even with these advantages compared to other forms of birth control, the Mirena IUD can have serious and harmful side effects.Harmful Effects of the Mirena IUD
Though the Mirena IUD can be an effective form of birth control, it also has unwanted side effects. Some of the more common side effects of the Mirena IUD include:
- Pain and dizziness when the device is placed
- Expulsion—which is when the Mirena IUD falls out on its own
- Missed periods, irregular spotting or bleeding
In addition to these common side effects, the Mirena IUD has also been linked to very serious side effects including:
- Ovarian Cysts: Approximately 12% of Mirena IUD users develop cysts on their ovaries. Though these cysts can go away on their own, they are often painful. Some cysts require surgery to be removed.
- Entopic Pregnancies: It is possible to still get pregnant even with the Mirena IUD. Of the pregnancies that have occurred in Mirena IUD users many are Entopic pregnancies—this means the egg is fertilized outside the Uterus, often in the fallopian tube. This can be very dangerous and even cause infertility..
- Device Migration and Organ Perforation: Another possible side effect of the Mirena IUD is having the device move out of place. Cases have occurred where the device moves to other parts of the body rather than staying in place. This can be dangerous and result in organ perforation (puncture or tearing) of organs such as the uterus. When this occurs, surgery can be required to remove the device.
- Pseudotumor Cerebri Injuries: The Mirena IUD has been linked to causing a condition called Pseudotumor Cerebri, or “false brain tumor.” This condition is caused by the hormone, levonorgestrel, which the Mirena IUD releases into the body. The hormone can cause increased cerebrospinal fluid in the skull, which makes the body experience symptoms of a brain tumor such as, blurred vision or vision loss, migraine headaches, and ringing in the ears. This condition can require surgery to fix.
Thousands of women have been harmed by Mirena IUD and are now bringing claims to hold Bayer pharmaceuticals, the company who manufactures the IUD, responsible for their injuries. These cases claim that Bayer never properly warned women about the harmful side effects of the device and that the device itself is not safe.
Because thousands of claims have been filed against Bayer, the harm caused by the Mirena IUD is considered a mass tort. Mass torts are a type of civil lawsuit that help families and individuals get compensated for injuries or even deaths caused by dangerous drugs or product defects. When the same product causes lots injuries to a group of people—or to a mass of people, it is considered a mass tort. In a mass tort case, each woman’s injuries caused by the Mirena IUD are treated individually.Talk to an Experienced Woodland Hills Mirena IUD Injury Attorney
The consequences of using a Mirena IUD can be very serious. Certainly, no woman should have to suffer from the harmful side effects this IUD can cause simply because they thought the device was safe and helpful. If you have suffered from the serious side effects caused by using a Mirena IUD, you are entitled to compensation for this suffering and the harm it has caused for your future.
At Walch Law, we understand how frustrating and emotionally painful it can be when harmful side effects caused by a Mirena IUD disrupt your life, especially when you thought it was a safe form of birth control. Bringing a personal injury claim against the company that caused this pain, can help you recover financially for the cost these injuries have had in your life, economically, physically, and emotionally.