How Are Vaginal Mesh Problems or Complications Diagnosed?

Healthcare providers use various diagnostic approaches to identify transvaginal mesh complications, from initial assessments to advanced imaging techniques.

The evaluation process typically begins with a thorough patient history and physical examination, followed by specialized imaging when needed to confirm the diagnosis and determine the extent of mesh-related issues.

Initial Assessment of Transvaginal Mesh Problems

The first step in diagnosing transvaginal mesh problems involves a detailed patient history and symptom evaluation.

Women experiencing complications often report pelvic pain, vaginal discharge, bleeding, painful intercourse (dyspareunia), and urinary symptoms.

These symptoms may develop immediately after mesh placement or years later.

During the physical examination, healthcare providers perform a thorough vaginal examination to identify:

• Mesh exposure or erosion through the vaginal wall
• Areas of tenderness or pain when applying pressure to specific vaginal regions
• Trigger points that produce pain when the mesh is palpated
• Changes in vaginal tissue quality, including scarring or contraction
• Pelvic floor muscle tension or spasms

This initial assessment helps determine whether symptoms are related to mesh complications and guides decisions about further diagnostic testing.

If symptoms persist or the examination reveals signs of mesh-related problems, healthcare providers may recommend advanced imaging to fully evaluate the condition.

Advanced Imaging to Detect Mesh Implant Issues

When physical examination findings suggest transvaginal mesh complications, healthcare providers may use several advanced imaging techniques to confirm the diagnosis and plan appropriate treatment:

• Transvaginal Ultrasound (TVUS): This non-invasive first-line imaging method offers real-time visualization of mesh position, surrounding tissues, and complications without radiation exposure while guiding treatment planning for mesh removal procedures.
• Endovaginal Ultrasound (EVUS): Endovaginal ultrasound provides enhanced visualization of mesh placement and integration to determine the full extent of mesh-related issues and assist surgeons in planning partial or complete mesh removal.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): MRI delivers detailed images of pelvic organs, soft tissues, inflammatory changes, and potential mesh erosion into surrounding structures when ultrasound results are inconclusive or additional information is needed for surgical planning.
• Cystoscopy and Proctoscopy: These endoscopic procedures enable direct visualization of the bladder and rectum to identify mesh erosion, assess tissue damage, and guide surgical planning for mesh removal and repair.

The combination of physical examination findings and advanced imaging results enables healthcare providers to make accurate diagnoses and develop personalized treatment plans for women experiencing transvaginal mesh complications.

If you have concerns about potential mesh-related symptoms, contact TruLaw using the chat on this page to receive an instant case evaluation that can determine your eligibility to join others in filing a transvaginal mesh lawsuit.

Healthcare providers use specific examination techniques to assess the presence of mesh-related issues and determine appropriate treatment options.

Women experiencing symptoms after mesh surgery should seek medical evaluation by providers with experience in recognizing mesh complications.

Evaluating Pain and Discomfort After Mesh Surgery

Pain is among the most common complications following transvaginal mesh surgery, often described as pelvic pain, vaginal pain, or pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia).

Pain following mesh placement requires methodical evaluation to distinguish between various potential causes and determine the most appropriate treatment approach:

• Focused Pelvic Examination: Healthcare providers perform a systematic assessment of the pelvic skeletal and muscular anatomy to identify specific sources of mesh-related pain.
• Levator Ani Assessment: This evaluation examines muscle tone and tenderness in the pelvic floor, which frequently contributes to postoperative pain following mesh procedures.
• Bimanual Examination: Clinicians gently manipulate pelvic organs to evaluate pain responses that may indicate mesh adherence to surrounding structures or inflammation.
• Cotton Swab Test: This diagnostic technique maps pain distribution along vaginal walls by applying gentle pressure with a cotton-tipped applicator to identify specific painful regions related to mesh placement.
• Mesh Palpation: Practitioners apply precise pressure along the path of the mesh sling to locate trigger points that reproduce the patient’s typical pain symptoms.
• Nerve Pathway Assessment: This evaluation focuses on pudendal and obturator nerve routes to identify nerve compression or irritation that may be causing neuropathic pain following mesh placement.

Pain after surgical treatment may be immediate or develop years after the procedure.

The pattern, timing, and intensity of pain provide valuable diagnostic information.

Persistent pain following a mesh sling surgical procedure often requires evaluation by healthcare providers familiar with mesh complications.

Identifying Signs of Transvaginal Mesh Exposure

Mesh exposure or erosion occurs when the mesh material becomes visible through vaginal tissue or protrudes into surrounding organs.

Diagnosing mesh complications begins with careful visual inspection, which allows clinicians to identify exposure or erosion that may require intervention:

• Speculum Examination: Clinicians conduct a detailed vaginal examination using a speculum to thoroughly visualize all vaginal walls for signs of mesh complications.
• Mesh Exposure Assessment: Healthcare providers look for areas where mesh is visible through the vaginal epithelium, which may appear as small openings with visible mesh material, red granulation tissue surrounding exposed mesh, abnormal discharge, or vaginal wall thinning.
• Pain Response Evaluation: Practitioners assess for tenderness or pain when touching exposed mesh areas to determine sensitivity and help gauge the extent of inflammation or nerve involvement.
• Urethral Inspection: This focused examination evaluates the urethra and areas around the bladder neck for signs of mesh erosion causing urinary symptoms and predisposing patients to recurrent infections.
• Mesh Contraction Analysis: Clinicians evaluate for mesh contraction, which may cause puckering or tightening of vaginal tissue leading to pain, dyspareunia, and reduced vaginal caliber.

Mesh exposure can cause symptoms including vaginal discharge, spotting or bleeding, pain during sexual intercourse, and recurrent urinary tract infections.

In some cases, mesh exposure may be present without obvious symptoms, making regular follow-up examinations important after mesh placement.

If physical examination reveals signs of mesh complications, healthcare providers may recommend additional diagnostic tests, including imaging studies, to fully assess the extent of the problem and develop a treatment plan.

If you’ve been diagnosed with mesh exposure or erosion following transvaginal mesh surgery, contact TruLaw using the chat on this page to receive an instant case evaluation that can determine your eligibility to seek compensation for medical expenses and other damages.

Pelvic reconstructive surgery addresses structural abnormalities that develop when a woman’s pelvic floor tissues weaken or tear.

This comprehensive evaluation typically begins with a detailed patient history and systematic pelvic examination that assesses the type and degree of support defects present.

For patients experiencing pelvic organ prolapse, an examination using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System (POP-Q) helps determine the severity of displacement, with measurements taken at specific vaginal points to document the precise anatomical changes and stage the condition from 0-4.

Women with stress urinary incontinence undergo specialized testing including urodynamic studies that measure bladder pressure, urine flow rates, and sphincter function during various activities to assess the extent of urethral hypermobility or intrinsic sphincter deficiency.

Prior to considering transvaginal mesh placement—a surgical technique that has faced scrutiny from regulatory agencies—patients require thorough counseling about alternative treatment options including non-surgical approaches and native tissue repairs without synthetic materials.

Determining the Need for Corrective Mesh Surgery

Surgical mesh placement may be considered in specific cases of advanced pelvic organ prolapse (stages 3-4) where native tissue repairs have previously failed or when patients have risk factors for recurrence such as chronic high intra-abdominal pressure or connective tissue disorders.

Since the FDA’s 2019 order removing transvaginal mesh products for prolapse from the market, abdominal approaches using mesh (like sacrocolpopexy) have become the preferred surgical option when mesh reinforcement is deemed necessary, with studies showing success rates up to 90% for long-term anatomical support.

The decision-making process must include a personalized risk-benefit analysis, as mesh-related complications including erosion, pain, infection, and organ perforation can impact the quality of life and often require additional surgical interventions for correction.

Physicians must document that patients fully understand that while mesh may provide superior anatomical support in certain cases, it carries unique risks that non-mesh procedures do not and that some mesh-related complications can be permanent despite surgical correction attempts.

Pre-operative Assessment of Mesh Complications

For women who have previously undergone mesh procedures and are experiencing complications, evaluation begins with a focused history detailing symptom onset, progression, and specific triggers for urinary symptoms, pain, or vaginal discharge.

A thorough pelvic examination may reveal mesh erosion (exposure through vaginal tissue), palpable bands causing pain or dyspareunia, or signs of infection, while specialized tests including cystoscopy or proctoscopy may be needed to diagnose mesh penetration into adjacent organs.

Women with pelvic floor disorders frequently experience overlapping conditions, requiring careful differentiation between mesh-related symptoms and other conditions like overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis, or myofascial pain that may coexist or mimic mesh complications.

Imaging studies including pelvic ultrasound, MRI, or CT scans with specific mesh protocols help visualize the exact location of mesh implants and their relationship to surrounding structures.

Our Transvaginal Mesh attorney at TruLaw is dedicated to supporting clients through the process of filing a Transvaginal Mesh lawsuit.

With extensive experience in product liability cases, Jessica Paluch-Hoerman and our partner law firms work with litigation leaders and medical experts to prove how defective mesh implants caused you harm.

TruLaw focuses on securing compensation for medical expenses, revision surgeries, pain and suffering, lost income, and other damages resulting from your transvaginal mesh injuries.

We understand the physical and emotional toll that Transvaginal Mesh complications have on your life and provide the personalized guidance you need when seeking justice.

Meet the Lead Transvaginal Mesh Attorney at TruLaw

Meet our lead Transvaginal Mesh attorney:

• Jessica Paluch-Hoerman: As founder and managing attorney of TruLaw, Jessica brings her experience in product liability and personal injury to her client-centered approach by prioritizing open communication and personalized attention with her clients. Through TruLaw and partner law firms, Jessica has helped collect over $3 billion on behalf of injured individuals across all 50 states through verdicts and negotiated settlements.

How much does hiring a Transvaginal Mesh lawyer from TruLaw cost?

At TruLaw, we believe financial concerns should never stand in the way of justice.

That’s why we operate on a contingency fee basis—with this approach, you only pay legal fees after you’ve been awarded compensation for your injuries.

If you or a loved one experienced pain, bleeding, infection, organ perforation, mesh erosion, or other complications from transvaginal mesh implants, you may be eligible to seek compensation.

Contact TruLaw using the chat on this page to receive an instant case evaluation and determine whether you qualify to join others in filing a Transvaginal Mesh lawsuit today.

Vaginal mesh lawsuits are being filed by individuals across the country who were injured by defective vaginal mesh implants.

TruLaw is currently accepting clients for the vaginal mesh injury lawsuits.

A few reasons to choose TruLaw for your vaginal mesh injury case include:

• If We Don’t Win, You Don’t Pay: The vaginal mesh injury lawyers at TruLaw and our partner firms operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid if you win.
• Expertise: We have years of experience handling medical device cases similar to vaginal mesh injury lawsuits, which helps us anticipate what we can expect to see in your case and the regulations we will be required to meet.
• Successful Track Record: TruLaw and our partner law firms have helped our clients recover billions of dollars in compensation through verdicts and negotiated settlements.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries from a defective vaginal mesh implant, you may be eligible to seek compensation.

Contact TruLaw using the chat on this page to receive an instant case evaluation that can determine if you qualify for the vaginal mesh injury lawsuits today.