Paragard 380A is an IUD made by Teva Pharmaceuticals that has caused pain and suffering in many women across the United States. Lawsuits across the country are lining up against Teva Pharmaceuticals for creating a defective contraceptive device.
Furthermore, the company failed to provide adequate removal (or ‘explant’) instructions to healthcare providers that did not include breakage. Read more below about Paragard, and if a Paragard lawsuit is right for you.
IUD and Birth Control
There are many forms of birth control available to women these days. From birth control pills to a patch, hormone shots and rings; many pharmaceutical companies have gotten creative with the various forms of birth control for women. One such method is to use an intrauterine device, known as an IUD.
An IUD is a T-shaped device that is inserted into the patient’s uterus, and is typically no bigger than the size of a quarter. It’s an incredibly convenient way of preventing pregnancy because there is very little maintenance that comes with it. According to Planned Parenthood, IUD is considered 99% effective; fewer than 1 pregnancy in 100 women will become pregnant with an IUD implant.
The IUD is especially convenient after a cesarean or vaginal birth, or at the very least during a postpartum checkup. There are two different kinds of IUDs; hormonal release or copper. The benefit of a copper is there are no hormones. Sperm has a natural aversion to copper, therefore the copper that makes up an IUD like Paragard, is effective at preventing sperm from ever reaching an egg. It is possible to leave a copper IUD in the uterus for up to 12 years.
Though an IUD sounds like a low-maintenance, convenient way of preventing pregnancy, they come with an increased risk of discomfort ranging from mild irritation to severe pain.
Common side effects of IUD include:
- Pain after insertion
- Cramping
- Backaches
- Irregular periods
- Heavier periods
- Spotting
The problem with the Paragard 380A IUD arises when the patient undergoes removal. The T-shaped device arms can break off, which would require an invasive procedure to retrieve the pieces.
When this happens, the doctor must perform a hysteroscopy, an endoscope inserted through the cervix into the uterine cavity. At this point, the doctor may require a procedure similar to a C-section where the doctor removes the pieces or a hysterectomy, the removal of the uterus and permanent infertility.
Some alarming instances have occurred when the doctor is unable to find the broken IUD pieces at all. This indicates it may have become embedded into the uterine wall or traveled elsewhere in the anatomy.
It’s important to note, though most of the time the device arms break during removal, it can also break beforehand.
Major side effects of the Paragard IUD include:
- IUD breaking upon removal
- IUD expulsion from, or falling out of the uterus
- Perforation of the uterus, uterine wall, or cervix
- Migration
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Inflammation and/or allergic reaction because of the copper left in the body
- Hysterectomy
- Scarring and damage to other organs
- Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC), or idiopathic intracranial
- Hypertension
- Infertility
- Severe menstrual pain, heavy bleeding, cramps, or spotting
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Infection
- Organ perforation or damage to the organs
- Death from any of the above
If you have suffered any of the injuries mentioned above, you may be entitled to financial compensation by filing a Paragard lawsuit.
Paragard remains on the consumer market
The US Food and Drug Administration initially approved the Paragard IUD as far back as 1984. Since 1994, it has been approved for up to ten years of use and implantation in the body. Though there was a recall in 2019 due to sterility issues, the Paragard T 380A remains on the consumer market, despite harrowing instances of device failure.
The copper Paragard has been said to be better and more effective than the Bayer company’s Mirena IUD, which has been linked to causing pseudotumor cerebri (PTC). However, the risk of Paragard may outweigh the benefits to using it.
The pain from a defective IUD is more than an inconvenience– it is excruciating and requires time to heal. Not only may you be required to attend many doctor’s appointments and consultations, but the amount of pain or an inevitable surgery will cause you to miss work. This begins to add up, and many people experience extreme financial loss to the defective IUD.
Paragard lawsuits are being compiled into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) as of 2023.
Questions About a Paragard Lawsuit? Contact a Johnson//Becker Lawyer for a Free Case Review.
If you or someone you love have suffered after having a Paragard 380A IUD, including breakage during removal, contact the Paragard lawyers at Johnson//Becker today. You may be entitled to financial compensation by filing a lawsuit against Teva Pharmaceuticals.
We offer a Free Case Evaluation. Please contact us using the form below or by calling us at (800) 279-6386.
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