IUDs (intrauterine devices) can be a dream come true when it comes to birth control peace of mind and menstrual pain relief, but they can also be nightmares when unexpected side effects arise.

This was the case for one woman who had the Mirena IUD implanted in 2016. Prior to the procedure she thoroughly read through the “Patient Informational Booklet” to ensure that she knew all the side effects she could be faced with, but when she suffered one side effect that wasn’t warned about in the booklet, she felt that the makers of the Mirena made false representations about their product.

The woman suffered debilitating headaches and had to have an MRI and pet scan to rule out possible symptoms. She was finally diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) or intracranial hypertension (IH). She has filed a lawsuit in New York against the makers of Mirena, Bayer, Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and is seeking more than $75,000 in damages due to injury and future health care needs. She says she will need future health care due to the injury.

The plaintiff is suing for negligence, design defect, strict liability, negligent and fraudulent misrepresentation, fraud by suppression and concealment, failure to warn, and breach of warranties. She claims that there is a known link between IH and levonorgestrel (the hormone in Mirena), however, the patient booklet does not mention any connection.

Mirena isn’t the only birth control device that has caused patients severe personal injuries. The copper IUD, Paragard, also has a long list of serious side effects that often cause patient’s life-threatening injuries such as ectopic pregnancies.

As IUDs increase in popularity, side effects and risks are often downplayed because only a minority of women suffer from them. Women often have to take the initiative to learn more about the devices on their own. On top of that drug companies may hide or misrepresent their products to appeal to more women, leaving more women at risk for serious complications and injuries that may leave them needing medical care for the rest of their lives.

If you or a loved one have suffered an injury due to an IUD or other contraceptive methods and would like information about how to obtain compensation, send us a message.