If the Mirena IUD migrates, embeds itself in the uterus, perforates the uterus, or causes other severe complications, Mirena must be removed. Unfortunately, this is not always easy — especially if the retrieval threads are no longer outside the uterus. Laparoscopic surgical removal of Mirena may be necessary. If you needed surgery to remove Mirena, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit.
Overview
Mirena is a hormone-releasing intrauterine device (IUD) that prevents pregnancy for up to five years while it is implanted in a woman’s uterus. It was approved by the FDA in 2000 and is used by 2 million women in the U.S. and nearly 100 million women worldwide.
Surgery is often recommended when Mirena causes a serious complication, such as uterine perforation. This complication can occur during insertion (about 1 per 1,000 insertions or less), or it can occur many weeks or months after insertion. Up to 15% of uterine perforations affect pelvic and abdominal tissues, with the intestines most often affected.
Surgery to Remove Mirena
If the IUD is deeply embedded or has moved into the abdominal cavity, surgery is recommended in most cases. Most surgical removals of Mirena are laparoscopic — minimally-invasive surgeries performed with small incisions. Surgeons use a device called a laparoscope, which usually has a light, video camera, and surgical instruments on the end. The laparoscopic approach reduces the risk of bleeding, post-operative pain, and speeds up recovery time.
One potential long-term complication is infertility, especially if the surgery or the perforation has caused scarring or damage to the uterus.
Case Reports of Mirena Surgical Removal
In the January-March 2008 issue of the Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, doctors published
three case reports of women whose Mirena IUD migrated into their abdominal cavity and required surgical removal.
- Case report #1: One year after a woman got the Mirena IUD, the strings were no longer retrievable. An ultrasound and X-ray confirmed that the IUD was no longer in the uterus, and the patient was told it had been expelled. When the patient had an X-ray for another procedure, the IUD was noticed in her abdomen. She underwent surgery to remove the IUD.
- Case report #2: A woman became pregnant while the IUD was in place and miscarried the baby. Her doctor could not remove the IUD using several methods. An MRI revealed that it was embedded in the uterus. Surgery was necessary to remove the IUD.
- Case report #3: A woman became pregnant three months after getting the Mirena IUD. It was assumed that the Mirena was expelled and she had a normal pregnancy. Six years later, X-rays discovered the IUD in her pelvis. She underwent surgery to remove the IUD.
Mirena Side Effects
You may be eligible to file a lawsuit if your Mirena IUD migrated, perforated your uterus, moved outside your uterus, and required surgical removal. Mirena has been associated with the following severe side effects:
- Perforation of the uterus
- Embedment or erosion into the uterus
- Migration outside the uterus
- Organ perforation
- Intestinal obstruction or perforation
- Pregnancy
- Abdominal pain
- Infection
- Infertility
- Scarring
- And more