Image of Essure Birth Control From Essure Attorney
Attorneys throughout the United States are now accepting cases from women who were injured by Essure. The first lawsuits were filed in 2013 by women who had to have surgery or a hysterectomy to treat complications like chronic pain, device migration, and organ perforation.
Need an Essure Attorney? If you or a loved one was injured by side effects of Essure, contact our law firm immediately for a free case consultation. If you file a lawsuit, you could receive compensation for your injury, medical expenses, and more.
Overview
Essure consists of a plastic insert surrounded by two metal coils (nickel-titanium and stainless steel) coated in irritating polyester-like fibers. It is implanted inside the fallopian tubes, where it causes inflammation and scar-tissue growth that blocks the fallopian tubes.
What is the problem?
Essure is a quick and easy alternative to tubal ligation (getting one’s “tubes tied”), but there here are major differences that can be devastating for a woman’s long-term health. When these complications occur, often the only cure is a hysterectomy.
Essure Victims Report “Stabbing Pains”
One of the most devastating complaints is chronic pain. Elena Mendez, a nurse from New York, said Essure became embedded in her endometrial cavity. She told NBC News:
“It felt like this constant either dragging or shooting, stabbing pains. Almost like someone literally had a knife — sitting inside of you with a knife like poking downward.”
Risk of Getting Pregnant After Essure
Although Essure is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy with perfect use, studies have found that up to 9.6% of women get pregnant within 10 years of getting Essure — 4X higher than the risk from tubal ligation. Pregnancies are more likely to be high-risk and ectopic when Essure is still implanted in the body.
Essure Linked to 10X Risk of Follow-Up Surgery
Other studies have found a 10X increased risk of needing follow-up surgery compared to tubal ligation (2.9% vs. 0.2%). Many of these surgeries are complete hysterectomies to remove Essure after it causes debilitating pain, bleeding, skin rashes, or even more serious complications.
Complications of Improper Placement
- Inserting Essure too far: Can perforate the fallopian tube and cause Essure to migrate into the abdomen, where it can damage the bowel or bladder. Once located, it will need to be removed surgically.
- Not inserting Essure far enough: Can migrate out of the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it causes heavy bleeding, severe cramps, and fails to prevent pregnancy.
FDA Investigates Essure
After receiving over 5,000 adverse event reports linked to Essure, the FDA has published a report (PDF) on potential risks, including:
- Nickel allergy / hypersensitivity
- Migration of device outside of fallopian tubes
- Chronic Pain
- Heavy Bleeding
- Fracturing of the device
- Perforation of fallopian tubes
- Organ damage
- Miscarriage
- Ectopic pregnancy
- And more
Erin Brockovich Joins Campaign to Ban Essure
Famed consumer advocate Erin Brockovich has joined thousands of women in their campaign to get Essure off the market. She has started a website, EssureProcedure.net, for women to share their stories and help change federal laws protecting pharmaceutical companies from lawsuits.
Attorneys Challenge Federal Law Barring Essure Lawsuits
Essure was given a “fast-track” approval because it was the only non-surgical sterilization device on the market. The manufacturer, Conceptus Inc., was required to follow rigorous scientific protocols when studying Essure’s side effects. In exchange, they are shielded from lawsuits by a federal law known as preemption.
Attorneys argue that Essure’s approval is invalid because Conceptus falsified medical records during clinical trials, failed to report adverse events, made false claims about its safety, and used defective materials in manufacturing.
How Can an Essure Attorney Help?
Our attorneys can review your case for free and let you know how much time you have left to file a lawsuit. If you decide to join this litigation, we can help you seek justice and maximize compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, rehabilitation, disability, lost income, and more.
Need an Essure Attorney?
The Defective Medical Device Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new cases in all 50 states.
Free Essure Lawsuit Evaluation: Again, if you or a loved one was injured by Essure birth control, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit, and our attorneys can help.
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