If you have had a mesh device inserted to address pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence, these vaginal mesh erosion symptoms may sound familiar:

• Severe pelvic pain
• Painful intercourse
• Inability to have intercourse
• Partner experiences irritation from mesh during intercourse

These problems may signal that the implantation of a surgical mesh device has gone awry and you should consult with your doctor right away.

Transvaginal mesh devices are used to help thousands of women who have pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence. These problems occur in nearly 50% of women during their lifetime, and are caused when the muscles in the pelvic area become weakened, often due to age, pregnancy, childbirth, hysterectomy or weight.

Pelvic organ prolapse, or POP, occurs when the weakened muscles allow the pelvic organs to shift downward, allowing organs such as the bladder, uterus or urethra to enter, or prolapse into, the vagina. POP actually is a fairly common occurrence, and most women are not even aware of any symptoms. The 2% of women who do experience symptoms may feel pain and pressure in the back and pelvic area, and may have difficulty with sexual, urinary and bowel functions.

Stress urinary incontinence, or SUI, occurs when the muscles in the urethra weaken and allow urine to leak involuntarily. This most often happens when a woman coughs, sneezes, exercises or lifts heavy objects.

Transvaginal mesh has been used to treat both POP and SUI because the device can provide support to the weakened muscle area. Doctors often preferred to insert the mesh vaginally instead of abdominally because it was seen as less invasive, with a faster recovery time.

Vaginal Mesh Complications Increase

After numerous complaints, the FDA has confirmed what many women already knew: serious problems exist with the transvaginal mesh. In an FDA study looking at surgical mesh use from 2005-2010, the agency found almost 4000 reports of complications from surgical mesh surgery. These complications ranged from chronic pain from vaginal mesh erosion or mesh contraction to injuries and infection resulting from the insertion of the device. The FDA found that within a two-year period, seven deaths were associated with POP repairs. As more women learn the cause of their symptoms, more reports are expected to be filed.

To date, at least 600 lawsuits have been filed against the different manufacturers who are being held accountable for the vaginal mesh complications. Women who have filed lawsuits question whether the manufacturers tested the devices thoroughly enough before introducing them to market.

If you have had complications from a transvaginal mesh failure, we encourage you to contact us to explore your legal options. There is a limited time to file a vaginal mesh lawsuit. Please contact us at your earliest convenience.