At the end of 2018, Bayer ended sales of Essure® permanent birth control: The device, touted as a non-surgical alternative to tubal ligation, faced complaints from thousands of women who blamed it for undisclosed side effects. Facing complications such as ectopic pregnancy, autoimmune disorders, and uterine or fallopian perforation, these patients successfully rallied to bring addition FDA scrutiny upon the device. The agency required Bayer to conduct a post-launch study which should be completed in 2024. They also restricted where and how the device could be sold, which, according to Bayer, reduced sales so much that the company decided to quit selling Essure® altogether.
Are You Suffering Severe Side Effects from Essure®?
Though women soon will not even have the option to use Essure® (units must be implanted no more than a year after they were sold, meaning that by Jan 1, 2020, there will be no available supply), those who trusted the device for their birth control needs in the 16 years it was on the markets may still be dealing with the complications of their choice.
Managing Ongoing Side Effects
Women who use Essure® have suffered chronic pain, fatigue, migraines, depression, and other disabling conditions due to the birth control device. For many, the cause was unclear—even after many doctor visits. In trying to figure out the reason behind their health problems, many of these women accrued high medical bills and missed work, sometimes due to hospital stays. They may have tried additional medications or other therapies to deal with the serious complications the device could bring. Unfortunately, Essure® is relatively unknown and not even on the radar for some doctors—so it’s likely some women are still looking for answers for their medical troubles.
Surgical Removal
Over 18,000 women have experienced side effects so bad they opted for surgery to remove the device—which can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000. Some patients needed more than one operation to achieve removal, as device breakage may leave parts of the metal coils in the body; for others, the device cannot be removed without a full hysterectomy or salpingectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes). Some surgeries may require days or even weeks of recovery, leading to missed work or commitments. Patients could also develop complications including:
- Organ injury
- Increased risk of ectopic pregnancy
- Increased risk of uterine and other cancers
- Increased risk of pelvic organ prolapse
Because the procedure is difficult and unfamiliar to most doctors, Essure® removal surgery also comes with a higher risk of physician mistakes.
Persistent Symptoms
Even after removal, around 1 in 3 women report continuing symptoms or increased severity of side effects. These may result from coil breakage during the removal surgery, which leaves pieces in the body. However, even after follow-up surgeries to remove Essure® fragments, some patients have never regained their health. This is an unacceptable side effect, especially when the risks were never disclosed to patients before they made the decision to make a device meant to be permanent.
Do You Think You Have an Essure® Case?
If you had Essure® implanted and have experienced any of <<these common side effects>>, you may have recourse. Bayer rushed the drug to market without proper testing or warning, leaving many women who wanted a permanent method of birth control stuck with a host of serious, often lifelong health issues. These women deserve compensation for everything they’ve been through. You may be able to receive payment for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Reimbursement for outside help hired due to disability
- Pain & suffering
We want to help the women who were lied to by Bayer when searching for birth control solutions. If you’re an Essure® patient who has suffered health problems connected to the device, please come talk to us to see what we can do for you.
Come in for a free consultation today. Schedule your appointment online or call us at (888) 398-2277.