Women’s health columns and blogs have been awash recently with frightening reports about the serious dangers associated with the transvaginal placement of surgical mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapse. A July 2011 Safety Communication issued by the FDA, entitled “Serious Complications Associated with Transvaginal Placement of Surgical Mesh in Repair of Pelvic Organ Prolapse”, indicates that the use of vaginal mesh can result in permanent and life-altering side effects. Women attempting to learn more about this topic will find a sea of articles and blog posts, only some of which are factual. Vaginal mesh lawyer sites, health blogs and medical resources all have differing information about transvaginal mesh and its impacts on patients. Read on for the simple facts, distilled from the long version of the FDA’s official warning.
The 2011 safety alert came as a follow-up to a milder warning issued in 2008. Citing the same side effects as were known in 2008, the new report indicates these complications are “not rare”, as previously thought. The three-year period between 2008 and 2010 saw a five-fold increase in the number of reports of vaginal mesh adverse events. Women are teaming up with vaginal mesh attorneys to seek compensation for the side effects they have suffered as a result of the device.
The 2010 FDA report singled out “mesh erosion” or “extrusion” as the foremost complaint against transvaginal mesh. When the mesh erodes, it can either protrude from the vaginal wall or actually break off and become lodged somewhere else in the body. As a result of the use of vaginal mesh, women suffer from excruciating vaginal pain, profuse bleeding, infection, and even damage to pelvic organs. Patients experiencing these symptoms require one or more surgeries to remove the mesh; in one case that has become well-publicized, twelve surgeries have been performed to remove remnants of mesh from a single woman.
Following pelvic organ prolapse repair surgery, the FDA report says you should be sure to continue to attend follow-up doctor’s appointments, inquire with your surgeon as to whether a pelvic sling was used in your surgery, and report any health problems you may be having to your doctor. If you think there is a link between symptoms you are experiencing and pelvic organ prolapse surgery, contact a vaginal mesh attorney for a free consultation to learn about your legal rights. If you’ve had pelvic organ prolapse surgery but have suffered no negative side effects, there is no need to be concerned. Many women do not experience problems related to transvaginal mesh implantation.
If pelvic organ prolapse repair surgery has been recommended to you, be sure to inquire as to the method of repair. The most recent FDA report advised patients and medical professionals to explore all other means of repair before choosing to use transvaginal surgical mesh. The use of transvaginal mesh does not offer any clear advantages over other repair methods, but may pose a significant risk. If you do decide to use transvaginal mesh for pelvic organ prolapse repair, be aware that surgical mesh implantation is permanent and can lead to life-long health problems.