Mirena IUD Lawsuit Information & History of Other IUD Cases

Mirena is an intrauterine device that women use as a method of birth control. The device works to prevent pregnancy for as long as five years, by slowly emitting hormones after it has been implanted. Women are filing lawsuits alleging among other things that the Mirena IUD can perforate the uterine wall, migrate and require surgery.

Past IUD Complications: Dalkon Shield

This is not the first situation where an IUD caused serious harm and injured women. The Dalkon Shield was another intrauterine contraceptive device that had serious side effects. Users of the Dalkon Shield filed suit against the manufacturer of that product as well, and the company (the Dalkon Corporation) later paid millions of dollars in compensation.

The Dalkon Shield Case vs. the Mirena Case

In the 1970’s, more than 2.5 million Dalkon Shields were sold by the A.H. Robins Company. This meant approximately 10 percent of women in the total population were using an IUD as a method of birth control. According to the lawsuits, the Dalkon Shield was aggressively marketed to women of all ages, including teenagers, and was described as both highly effective and moderately priced.

The Dalkon Shield however, turned out to have a removal string that allowed bacteria into the uterus of the women using the devices. This could lead to blood poisoning, pelvic inflammatory disease, sepsis, and in some instances, infertility as a result of untreated complications.

When problems began to arise, as they did very quickly after the device came on the market, they were dismissed as being caused by the doctor who inserted the shield.

Within three years, the Dalkon Shield was removed from the market and more than 300,000 lawsuits were filed. The largest settlement paid to a woman injured by the Dalkon Shield was $2.2 million.

Have You Been Harmed by Mirena?

If you have experienced negative side effects as the result of using Mirena, contact a lawyer at Gibbs Law Group for a discreet, no-cost consultation.