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Paragard Lawsuit

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Paragard IUD Lawyer

Multiple means have been created over the years to give women the ability to prevent pregnancy. Of these, a popular one is an intrauterine device with an effective rate of nearly 100%. Its popularity has dramatically increased over the past 20 years. Finding a spot near the top of the popularity list is the Paragard IUD (models Tcu380A, T380A, and T380) made by Teva Pharmaceuticals.

Paragard was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1984. In the early days of IUD use, the devices were not recommended for women who had never given birth to a child. That restriction was removed, however, and women of all ages can use the device whether they have or have not birthed children.

The increase in the number of women using IUD devices has been followed by the rise in the number of reports of unexpected side effects and complications. Women have encountered problems with their IUDs migrating inside their bodies or breaking. Additionally, bits and pieces of the IUD have unknowingly been left in women’s bodies after the devices have broken apart while being removed. Such occurrences can lead to the perforation of organs and the need for surgery.

As a result of the growing number of reports about the safety of Paragard and other IUDs, lawyers around the country are pursuing cases from women who have been seriously injured by ParaGard. If the manufacturer knew about the risks but failed to warn the public, they should be held accountable.

Description of the Paragard IUD

Birth control pills and hormonal methods of birth control had to step to the side when a different type of contraceptive appeared as an alternative. A small device, shaped like the letter T and merely an inch and a half tall and similarly wide, came on the scene. The tiny frame of flexible soft plastic is wrapped with copper wire on the stem. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the device can even be used as emergency contraception if placed intrauterine within five days of unprotected sex. However, the FDA has not labeled this device for emergency contraception.

Surgery is not required to place Paragard into the uterus, and the procedure can be performed by a physician or a nurse. A unique tool allows the IUD to go through the cervix and into the uterus. The whole process only takes minutes to complete. The insertion may be followed by cramping or other pains, though.

IUDs are very effective at preventing pregnancy. No protection is offered, however, for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. The Paragard unit has an expected life of approximately ten years and then needs replacement. It can be removed at any time by a medical professional.

Other IUDs use hormones to prevent pregnancy. Paragard is the only IUD to stop pregnancy without the use of hormones effectively. According to the manufacturer, Teva Pharmaceuticals, the device is 99 percent effective. The copper on the unit creates an inflammatory response in the uterus that is toxic to sperm and eggs.

Paragard vs. Mirena

Another IUD on the market is called Mirena. This contraceptive device uses the hormone levonorgestrel contained in a reservoir to help stop pregnancy from occurring and is expected to last approximately five years.

A low dose of the hormone (20 micrograms daily) is released to keep the endometrial lining inside the uterus from thickening. During a normal menstrual cycle, this thickening occurs right before the lining is dispelled and is the ideal condition for a fertilized egg to implant. Thus, by creating an inhospitable environment, Mirena helps prevent implantation and pregnancy. Another contraceptive quality of the hormone levonorgestrel is that it thickens cervical mucus, making it more difficult for sperm to migrate.

Paragard Removal Complications

Per a report given to the Medical Product Safety Network of the Food and Drug Administration, one woman had her Paragard IUD removed at a clinic eight years after implantation. Surprisingly, when the device was removed, it missed the copper coil from the stem of the unit. The copper on the arms of the device was still intact, but no copper whatsoever remained on the stem.

According to Paragard’s website, the removal of a unit could become difficult “because it is stuck in the uterus.” Additionally, further information on the site informs readers that, “Surgery may sometimes be needed to remove Paragard.”

Other Complications of Paragard

Further complications from Paragard include the propensity for some units to break apart upon extraction from the uterus, thus leaving pieces inside the patient’s body. Surgery to remove the broken pieces is typically necessary, and in some cases, a woman may require a full hysterectomy, eliminating any possibility of future pregnancies she may have desired.

Another potential complication involves perforation of the uterus wall upon implantation. This penetration of the uterine wall can lead to infection, damage to other organs nearby, and scarring. Again, surgery is often the only recourse to help rectify the problem.

Lastly, if a woman does become pregnant with a Paragard IUD in place, the risk is higher that she will experience an ectopic or tubal pregnancy with the baby developing outside the uterus. This emergency can be life-threatening for the woman, and she needs immediate medical care, often surgery. Ectopic pregnancies can produce internal bleeding and result in infertility or, tragically, death.

Pseudotumor Cerebri Linked to Paragard

A condition called pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) happens when symptoms of a brain tumor are exhibited in a person, but no actual tumor is there. The affected individual’s pressure in the skull rises, and other physical symptoms of a brain tumor manifest. Studies have been conducted that demonstrate a link between PTC and the use of a Paragard IUD.

Symptoms of PTC include:

  • Intense headaches that begin behind the eyes
  • Vision problems and/or blindness
  • Dizziness, nausea, vomiting
  • Back, neck or shoulder pain
  • Whooshing sound in the head that pulses with the heartbeat
  • Light flashes
  • Ringing in the ears

Broken Paragard Lawsuits Claim Manufacturer Knew Risks

Lawsuits have been filed against Paragard, claiming that the manufacturer, Teva, was aware of the severe injuries possible from breakage of the device either in the uterus or upon removal. Also, the lawsuits claim that the trials Teva performed, plus the experiences and complaints that came to the manufacturer after marketing the IUD, clearly alerted Teva to the serious risks of the product. Still, the company chose not to warn women of the impending dangers.

In a three-year study of a Chicago gynecology practice, seven cases arose with severe complications from the Paragard. Six of them required hysteroscopic removal of broken parts of the IUD. The Open Journal of Clinical and Medical Case Reports published this study in 2015. With one of the patients, age 28, it was impossible to entirely remove the broken part, even with surgery.

Results from this study show that there is an under-reporting of Paragard complications. In addition, it was found that medical practitioners face serious challenges when attempting to remove broken Paragard IUDs because the pieces cannot be adequately removed through the blind procedure developed by the manufacturer. This procedure only works for removing intact IUDs, not broken ones.

Social media carries stories from patients who followed the exact procedures given for removing a Paragard, but still could not successfully remove the device. Severe side effects resulted in some cases.

Women File Broken Paragard Lawsuits

Many women have safely used Paragard IUDs for years. However, reports have surfaced from others using the device that they have suffered severe complications. Some of the serious issues surfacing include pelvic inflammatory disease and perforations requiring expensive surgeries. Lawsuits are being filed against the manufacturer by patients who have experienced broken or migrating units and are seeking compensation.

A number of women in this country have sought legal counsel from attorneys to determine whether Paragard’s manufacturer produced an unsafe product and failed to notify patients of the potentially dangerous effects like brain injury. Legal representatives are investigating allegations that:

  • The manufacturer did not warn doctors, medical providers, and consumers about the possible risks involved.
  • The manufacturer knew about the risks but did nothing about redesigning the Paragard to make it safer.
  • The manufacturer marketed and distributed the device as safe and effective birth control.

Do You Have a Broken Paragard Lawsuit?

Have you had a Paragard device implanted? Have you suffered any of the complications below? If so, you may have the right to file a compensation claim.

  • Paragard IUD migrated and caused injury
  • Paragard IUD broke and caused injury
  • Paragard IUD complications required surgery
  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Unable to remove or retrieve Paragard IUD

Get Help From Broken Paragard Lawyer

Victims need legal counsel who will hold “big pharma” and negligent medical manufacturers accountable for the damage and injury they’ve caused to consumers. Here at The Eichholz Law Firm, we want to help you take legal action against the corporations that profit while you suffer injuries from their products. We want to help reverse the negative and get you on the path to recovery through financial compensation. 

Contact our broken Paragard lawyers today to get started.            

Please seek the advice of a medical professional before making health care decisions.
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