Mirena IUD Lawsuit

Mirena is an intrauterine device (IUD) that releases a progestin hormone called levonorgestrel to prevent pregnancies. The T-shaped device is implanted in the uterus by a healthcare provider and is intended to last for up to five years.

According to Bayer ¹, the device likely works by thickening cervical mucus to stop sperm from entering the uterus, keeping sperm from fertilizing the egg, and thinning uterine lining. It remains unclear precisely how these actions stop pregnancy.

The first IUDs were developed in the early 1900s, but the more modern iterations of the devices weren’t created until the 1960s. IUDs that released hormones were developed in the years after. Eventually, a Finnish doctor used the hormone levonorgestrel to be released from his device over a five-year period, elongating the time the IUD could be implanted. The device was called Mirena.

Mirena was first approved for medical use in Finland in 1990 and later approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000. The drug is now manufactured by German drug company Bayer.

Over the years, Mirena has grown in popularity. This has led to an increase in profits. From 2006 to 2010 ², revenue for Mirena went from $219 million to $714 million. During that time, the FDA also approved Minera for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding. The revenue for Bayer has only gone up since then.

Studies and reports have also linked Mirena to more serious complications. Here are just a few.

Device Migration And Perforation

When a Mirena IUD is not properly implanted or fails, it can result in migration or perforation. The consequences of IUD migration to another part of the body can be traumatic. In some cases, perforation can happen during placement. Perforation of the uterus could result in unexpected pregnancies with the device implanted.

Migration or perforation could require surgery for removal. There have been cases where women had to undergo multiple surgeries to find the device.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the reproductive organs and is typically caused by untreated sexually transmitted diseases.³ However, a little less than 1 percent of women with Mirena will also suffer from the disease. Early diagnosis is important because damage cannot be undone. When left untreated, PID could scar the fallopian tubes, cause infertility, and lead to long-term abdominal pain.

Pregnancy Complications

Though rare, some women have become pregnant with Mirena implanted. Half of pregnancies that occur with Mirena are ectopic pregnancies, a condition where the egg is fertilized outside the uterus. This poses a danger to the mother’s life and could result in infertility. Other complications related to pregnancy can be premature delivery and miscarriage.

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, also known as pseudotumor cerebri, is a condition caused by increased pressure in the brain. It can manifest itself as symptoms of a brain tumor, such as headaches, vision loss, and ringing in the ears.

The condition could also result in progressive and sometimes permanent loss of vision if left untreated, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.⁴

Breast Cancer

While research like a 2011 study ⁵ in the Contraception Journal has found no link between Mirena and breast cancer, there have been some reports of breast cancer in women taking Mirena. This has prompted Bayer to add a warning to the label that “spontaneous reports of breast cancer have been received during postmarketing experience with Mirena.”