The Mirena IUD has been under legal scrutiny for a few years now. The birth control device maker Bayer has been linked to organ perforation and ectopic pregnancies. In fact, 8.5 per cent of American women using contraception have opted for the long-term, reversible intrauterine device (IUD).
Recently, the Mirena IUD has been linked to another serious side-effect. A hormone used in the Mirena IUD is suspected of causing an elevated risk of pseudotumor cerebri, or PTC, in women. PTC is a condition that is also known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension. It occurs when there is an excess of fluid in the skull and leads to pressure around the brain.
Symptoms of PTC mimic that of a brain tumor and include headaches vomiting, nausea, and ringing in the ear. If left untreated, the condition can lead to blindness. While the condition can be treated with medication, some patients require an invasive surgery to drain the fluid in the brain.
This has become such a considerable legal problem as that the prescribing information found inside the packaging for Mirena does not include warnings for serious side effects of PTC or IIH. Bayer is now responsible for lawsuits for failing to warn doctors and patients of the potential risk affecting the brain.
As a result of improper warning labels, many women have used the Mirena IUD and many doctors have prescribed it without knowing the device could cause PTC. In some cases, women who experienced serious side effects have had to undergo numerous brain surgeries to resolve complications caused by PTC.
If you or someone you know has used or is using the Mirena IUD contraception device, and have experienced any of the symptoms mentioned above, you may be suffering from a side effect caused by your device. Contact your physician regarding your symptoms and an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your case and options to seek compensation.
