Why Do Some Transvaginal Mesh Implant Devices Fail?
- Last Updated: January 8th, 2025
Attorney Jessie Paluch, founder of TruLaw, has over 25 years of experience as a personal injury and mass tort attorney, and previously worked as an international tax attorney at Deloitte. Jessie collaborates with attorneys nationwide — enabling her to share reliable, up-to-date legal information with our readers.
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Key takeaways:
- Transvaginal mesh implants may fail due to the body's reaction to foreign materials, causing inflammation and complications like erosion or infection.
- Mesh material quality, surgical placement, and patient anatomy can affect implant success; improper technique or incompatible materials increase the risk of failure.
- Symptoms of transvaginal mesh implant failure include unexpected urine leakage, pain during sex, chronic pelvic pain, and complications with bowel movements.
Why Does Some Transvaginal Mesh Implant Fail?
On this page, we’ll discuss what causes the failure of a Transvaginal Mesh Implant, the signs and symptoms, who qualifies to file for a Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuit, and much more.
Intro To Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuit
Transvaginal mesh implants may fail for several reasons, one being the body’s adverse reaction to foreign materials.
When surgical mesh is inserted to reinforce weakened pelvic muscles and treat conditions like pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence, it can sometimes lead to an inflammatory response.
Inflammation at the implantation site weakens surrounding tissues and can decrease healing, setting the stage for complications such as erosion or infection.
Table of Contents
Understanding Transvaginal Mesh Implants
Doctors use transvaginal mesh implants to support pelvic muscles and treat conditions like stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse.
These devices are usually made from synthetic materials, such as polypropylene.
They act like a sling around the bladder neck or reinforce a weakened vaginal wall.
This is meant to hold up sagged organs due to weak pelvic floor muscles.
Over time, some patients might notice painful symptoms after getting these implants.
Mesh complications can occur if the material erodes into surrounding areas or causes infections.
Women may feel pain or intimacy during everyday activities.
Mesh exposure happens when the edges become visible through the vaginal tissue, leading to further issues that often require transvaginal mesh removal surgery.
Common Problems with Transvaginal Mesh Implants
Transvaginal mesh implants, designed for the surgical treatment of conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence, have unfortunately been linked to a plethora of complications that impact patient well-being.
From erosion and infection to chronic pain and organ perforation, these issues underscore the critical importance of evaluating the risks associated with such medical devices.
Medical Studies on Health Problems Caused by Transvaginal Mesh Implants
Medical studies show that transvaginal mesh implants can cause health problems.
Women report painful complications after getting these devices.
The following health problems have been documented in medical studies concerning transvaginal mesh implants:
- Many women feel pain in their pelvis after mesh surgery. This pain can be sharp or constant.
- Some patients have trouble during sex because it hurts. This can affect their personal lives.
- Vaginal bleeding is a scary side effect that happens for some after the implant. It can be light or serious.
- Mesh erosion means the mesh wears away at body tissue. When this happens, doctors may need to do more surgery.
- Women with these implants report problems with bladder and bowel control. They might feel like they always need to go to the bathroom or have accidents.
- Infections can occur around the surgical mesh, making women sick. These infections sometimes need strong medicine to treat them.
- The FDA stopped sales of certain mesh devices made for pelvic organ prolapse repair because they were not safe enough or did not work well enough.
- Mesh exposure is when the mesh becomes visible outside the body. This complication often needs another operation to fix it.
Ongoing Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuits
As consequences of surgical mesh complications surface, victims increasingly hold manufacturers accountable through the legal system.
These cases focus on devices that were supposed to aid patients but allegedly led to unforeseen and severe health issues.
Damages Claimed in the Transvaginal Mesh Implant Lawsuit
Victims have pursued various types of damages due to complications from transvaginal mesh implants:
- Compensatory Damages: Covers medical expenses, both past and future, related to mesh complications including lost wages, medical expenses, and diminished earning capacity.
- Pain and Suffering: Recognizes physical and emotional distress caused by the implants including, but not limited to chronic pain, discomfort, and mental anguish.
- Loss of Consortium: Reflects a negative impact on relationships and intimacy and often includes compensation for spouses or partners.
- Punitive Damages: Imposed to punish manufacturers for reckless or negligent actions that aims to exceed compensation.
- Loss of Quality of Life: Addresses reduced ability to enjoy life’s activities, hobbies, and daily routines due to the complications from the mesh.
- Legal Costs: Contact TruLaw using the chat on this page, we offer a free instant case evaluation with no obligation.
The settlements, reaching around $8 billion, highlight the severe impact of these implants.
They hold manufacturers accountable and aim to provide justice and closure to the affected women.
Conclusion
Transvaginal mesh implants can fail for several reasons.
Sometimes, the body rejects the synthetic materials. Other times, the mesh may erode inside the body, causing pain and complications.
In some cases, improper placement during surgery leads to problems later on.
Women have options besides transvaginal mesh for pelvic floor issues; they should know all their choices before deciding on this surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are vaginal mesh implants, and how do they treat pelvic organ prolapse?
Vaginal mesh implants are surgical devices used to treat pelvic organ prolapse, a condition where pelvic organs like the bladder, uterus, or rectum sag or bulge into the vagina, often due to weakened pelvic muscles.
These implants, often made from synthetic materials like polypropylene, provide support to the affected organs, helping to restore their normal position and function.
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How do mesh sling devices work in treating pelvic floor disorders?
Mesh sling devices are a type of surgical mesh device specifically designed to treat pelvic floor disorders, including stress urinary incontinence.
These slings act like a supportive hammock, positioned under the bladder neck or urethra, providing the necessary support to prevent urinary leakage, a common symptom associated with weakened pelvic floor muscles.
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What complications can arise from the use of pelvic mesh for pelvic floor disorders?
The use of pelvic mesh for pelvic floor disorders can lead to complications like pelvic pain, infection, erosion of the mesh into surrounding tissues, organ perforation, vaginal bleeding, urinary problems, and painful intercourse.
Mesh exposure, where the edges become visible through the vaginal tissue, is also a significant complication that may require additional surgery.
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Are there alternatives to vaginal mesh implants for treating pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence?
Yes, there are alternatives to vaginal mesh implants for treating pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence.
Non-surgical options include pelvic floor physical therapy and pessaries.
Surgical alternatives that do not involve mesh include traditional native tissue repair techniques.
It’s important for patients to discuss all available options with their healthcare provider.
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What legal actions have been taken against manufacturers of surgical mesh devices due to complications?
Due to the complications associated with surgical mesh devices, many victims have filed lawsuits against manufacturers.
These legal actions claim damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, consortium loss, quality of life, and legal costs.
In some cases, punitive damages have also been sought to punish manufacturers for negligent actions.
The settlements, which have reached around $8 billion, reflect the severity of the impact of these implants on patients’ lives.
Experienced Attorney & Legal SaaS CEO
With over 25 years of legal experience, Jessie is an Illinois lawyer, a CPA, and a mother of three. She spent the first decade of her career working as an international tax attorney at Deloitte.
In 2009, Jessie co-founded her own law firm with her husband – which has scaled to over 30 employees since its conception.
In 2016, Jessie founded TruLaw, which allows her to collaborate with attorneys and legal experts across the United States on a daily basis. This hypervaluable network of experts is what enables her to share reliable legal information with her readers!
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Alongside our partner law firms, we have successfully collected over $3 Billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured individuals.
Would you like our help?
