Mirena and Essure are internal forms of birth control that can prevent pregnancy for years at a time. Often after a women has finished having children her doctor will recommend these as an option. However thousands of women have been suffering from side effects from these types of birth control that range from painful to deadly. Many women blame their doctors for suggesting birth control that has lowered their quality of life. The truth is some doctors are just not informed and the blame may often lie with the manufacturer of these drugs who did not adequately state the real dangers and side effects of the procedure.
Mirena
Mirena is an intrauterine device (IUD) that is inserted into the uterus by a healthcare provider and is approved to remain in the uterus for up to five (5) years after insertion. The manufacturer warns that the doctor could perforate the uterus during insertion. However now there is a potential for suffering a nick, cut, or perforation at a later point in the 5-year life span of Mirena as it migrates on its own.
Survivor’s story on a support board:
“I hate Mirena. It has been a nightmare since day one. The very first day right at the doctor’s office I could not even walk. The pain was so strong that I thought I was about to give birth. I called the doctor and she mentioned that the pain would soon go away.
A week later I was there again because of the intense pain (cramps) and on top of everything I was bleeding for two months. My period lasts only for two day for the past 10 years. Now I have to have a pad with me all the time.
My hair is falling like I have some disease. I have acne problem, which I never had before the Mirena. Now I even have it in my chest and back. Every time I have a strong cramps, I bleed and that happens a few times a week. I don’t sleep well and my mood is terrible.”
Essure
The device is a pair of small lengths of coil that are inserted into a woman’s fallopian tubes; the coils then expand, which prevent sperm and eggs from joining. Women who have used the device have been reporting mild to devastating side effects from the procedure, including chronic and disabling pain, heavy bleeding and incredibly painful menstrual cramps.
A survivor’s story
“After getting Essure I started having leg pain, numbness of my hands and feet, sharp pains, fatigue, blood in my urine and heavy painful periods sometimes twice a month. After 7 years of pain a new doctor suggested that Essure was the problem. When the doctor went in to do exploratory surgery he found that one spring was almost all the way out and one was half way out, so he removed them, he also removed endometriosis, a cyst, a tumor and had to fix my bowels.”
There are many other women who have had these symptoms. Frustrated and in pain they went to doctor after doctor and were told that their Mirena or Essure birth control was not the cause. However more and more websites and support boards such as Erin Brockovich’s website have connected women and given voice to their pain. Lawsuits against the manufacturer have revealed medical evidence that proves these women’s suspicions were true. At Shapiro, Lewis, Appleton and Favaloro we understand how delicate and uncomfortable talking about a NuvaRing or Mirena claim can be for a woman. However finding an ethical lawyer who cares is a step in the right direction.
CT
Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
4 Comments
Michelle Garcia
Hello,
As one of the Admins on the Essure Problems Facebook group, I'd like to share with you that you have no clue about he Essure device and how it works. It does NOT expand; it causes the body to develop scar tissue which blocks the Fallopian tubes and inhibits pregnancy.
Essure was also granted PMA by the FDA and is considered a class 3 medical device. Therefore, none of the injured can sue the manufacturer.
You should do your homework before posting newsletters.
Sharon Laakko
My daughter had bad experience with both. Mirena fell out twice, second time unknown when resulted in one beautiful grandchild. After birth, she got essure coils in Nov., extreme pain began in Feb. She was almost bedridden the month of March. Finally got hysterectomy in April age 31, pain was gone in recovery room. She had a bleed and had to go back into surgery but was easily repaired but had to have 2 pts of blood. She also no longer has other symptoms , hair loss, dizziness, vision problems, and heavy bleeding (hysto would stop that). Doctor still says It is not Essure. Just how much are these doctors making? All seem to have drank the kool-aid ;(
MadMomma
Leesa Wines
I've had mine for 8 years and will be getting the surgery in October to remove them. One of mine is sticking up and causing much pain. i would not recommend this to anyone!!
Jen Ramer
I've had it for 5 years. Constant, dull pain since day one, and completely debilitated when I have my period or have sex. I have hair falling out, bizarre rashes, metallic taste that comes and goes, random stabbing pain in my right abdomen...and my doctor says it's "in my head". Now, I just found out I am 5 weeks pregnant. Terrified about having NICKEL coils in my uterus with my unborn baby...or if I will even be able to carry. I wouldn't wish this hell on my worst enemy.
Comments for this article are closed.