Medical-grade polypropylene mesh, originally designed for hernia treatment is now a popular surgical method for women to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Regarded as a ‘better option’ by the medical industry, the implant surgery, however, reported some severe and painful side effects and resulted in one of the largest medical device mass torts in the history of medical lawsuits.
Why need transvaginal mesh?
The surgical treatment of the pelvic prolapse involves repairing the pelvic region walls which were traditionally done by grafting tissues but is more recently done with the implant of a transvaginal mesh. It is intended to be a permanent surgery. Weakening of the pelvic floor also results in stress urinary incontinence where the muscles supporting the urethra function improperly. Exercising, sneezing, coughing and laughing often trigger leakage in women suffering from SUI. Similar to POP, severe SUI needs surgical intervention to reinforce the weakened pelvic area.
According to the mesh lawsuit update, women are may be eligible to file their claims for financial compensation, if they have suffered from any of the mentioned injuries or complications after a defective mesh implant surgery:
- Continuous unusual vaginal drainage
- Mesh erosion from the vaginal wall
- Constant sense of protrusion from the vagina
- Chronic lower back pain
- Painful intercourse
- Perforations of the bladder, bowel or blood vessels
- Pressure in the lower abdomen
- Reoccurrence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or pelvic organ prolapse (POP)
- Urinary problems such as unusual bleeding or infection
- Vaginal pain not associated with intercourse
- Vaginal scarring
The FDA issued the first warning in 2008 stating the serious side effects. In 2011, they updated the warning announcing that severe transvaginal mesh side effects are actually common and that the mesh implant did not significantly bring any effectiveness compared to those without it and suffering from POP or SUI.
Mesh erosion soon became one of the major reasons to file a transvaginal mesh lawsuit. The interior of the vagina is not sterile and has naturally occurring bacteria. Bacteria cannot be removed before the surgery and can contaminate the surgical site leading to severe infection and eventually mesh erosion. Furthermore, eroded meshes can perforate the neighboring organs causing traumatic pain and infective sores.
It’s a global phenomenon
Unfortunately, the litigation cases aren’t just being mounted in the U.S. Women from all over the world are suffering similar problems. Apart from the physical pain, a vaginal mesh lawsuit allows women to claim for the reduced quality of regular life. Women should not have to face severe pain while trying to have vaginal intercourse. This devalues a woman’s right to enjoy a complete healthy active sex life.
There is no figurative value to the harrowing pain you suffered but a substantial financial compensation would give you a sense of justice. tvmassistance.net can help you review the bladder mesh injuries and complications to find whether or not you are eligible to be compensated for your injuries and then you can speak to a vaginal mesh lawyer for free evaluation of your case – whether it is for a product defect or negligence. Visit https://tvmassistance.net/ to schedule an appointment.