Paragard IUD Lawsuit Lawyer in Greensboro NC

iud

There are many different birth control products available on the market today. Intrauterine devices (IUD), are some of the most popular among them. More than 10 percent of American women ages 15-49 use some kind of long-term birth control like an IUD or contraceptive implant, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate.

With so many women choosing an IUD, these devices must be safe and free of harmful defects. But recent evidence has shown that at least one brand of IUD – Paragard – may have caused severe injuries for many patients. Thousands of women and health care professionals have reported severe injuries among those who use Paragard, including at least 15 deaths.

If a defective Paragard IUD severely injured you, you may be entitled to significant compensation for your pain, suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and more.

The defective medical device attorneys at Ward Black Law have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients in North Carolina. We would be honored to help you with your claim. U.S. News & World Report recently named Janet Ward Black as its 2020 “Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year” for personal injury cases in the Triad region. The firm has been named one of the “Best Law Firms in America” for over ten years.

To schedule your free and confidential initial consultation, call us or visit our contact page.

What Is Paragard?

Paragard is a T-shaped device inserted into a woman’s uterus to prevent her from becoming pregnant. Paragard is hormone-free and made of flexible plastic. There’s a thin layer of copper that works as its active ingredient. The copper layer prevents sperm from reaching the egg and fertilizing it, thus preventing conception.

Paragard and other IUDs are removable, which is part of their appeal. They can last for up to 10 years before a replacement is needed. However, significant complications can occur if the device is not inserted correctly, falls out of the uterus, migrates to another area of the body, or pierces the patient’s uterine wall.

Potential Side Effects of Paragard

FDA officials first approved Paragard for use as a contraceptive in 1984. In 2005, the FDA approved a series of revisions for Paragard’s prescribing label. These revisions mainly included an expansion of the recommended patients for Paragard.

While the initial label said the device is recommended for women in monogamous relationships with at least one child, the 2005 revisions said the drug was safe for women in all stages of their reproductive life, from 16 to menopausal.

Despite the broad use of Paragard since its initial approval almost 40 years ago, women and their medical providers have made more than 40,000 reports to the FDA alleging adverse reactions to the device. These allegations include more than 15,500 severe complications and at least 15 deaths, according to publicly available data in the FDA Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) database. The agency received 7,273 reports in 2019 alone, according to FAERS.

Potential injuries and complications from Paragard

Recently, women who’ve used Paragard IUD’s have reported severe injuries caused by these devices, including:

  • IUD breakage upon removal
  • IUD expulsion or falling out of the uterus
  • IUD migration
  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • IUD embedding in the uterus
  • Infection and/or abscess
  • Inflammation caused by copper left in the body
  • Hysterectomy
  • Perforation of the uterine wall or cervix
  • Scarring and damage to other organs
  • Death

If you’ve experienced these or other injuries caused by a Paragard IUD, be sure to reach out to an attorney right away to discuss your rights.