Women Are Disappointed With Paragard IUDs: Mishaps and Side Effects

It is 2024, and women have the right to exercise their choice on the type of birth control options they want to use. The Paragard IUD has been a popular option with women for a while now. It is a T-shaped IUD (intrauterine device) that women can wear for almost a decade to prevent pregnancy. Compared to other IUDs, Paragard uses copper wires and doesn’t let a woman get pregnant.

However, after 10 years or when a woman decides to get pregnant, she can have the device removed by a healthcare professional. For years, the device seemed to have been benefiting women, but in recent times there have been complaints against Paragard IUDs because of their side effects.

Reports and anecdotal accounts of several women suggest that the device might puncture their uterus. There have been instances of device breakage that required women to undergo complicated surgeries to treat themselves back to normalcy. But the physical pain and emotional trauma that women had to undergo made them disillusioned about IUDs and the ideas they had about them.

In this article, we will shed light on this, the other side effects women might face after inserting the Paragard IUD, and the legal remedy to opt for.

The Tragic Story of Veronica Worley

Any woman who wants to give the Paragard IUD a try should know what happened to Veronica Whorley and arrive at an informed decision. Like most women, she thought that this device would be a secure birth control method, as it is non-hormonal. After 9 years in a routine exam, the nurse told her that the device had dislodged and needed to be taken out. During the removal process, the device broke into two pieces.

Later, the nurse informed her that she needed to undergo surgery to get the IUD pieces removed from her body. And without insurance, Veronica cannot afford this any further. As she narrated her story to Weartv.com in November 2023, she said that she feels completely blind-sighted about this. If only there had been someone to warn her about this, it could have saved her the injuries that she underwent because of the IUD insertion.

Women like Veronica, who have suffered after inserting the IUD, should voice their concerns so that others can use it as a warning. They can also file a Paragard IUD lawsuit to seek financial compensation that will help them cover the physical harm and emotional turmoil they have endured.

FDA Received Several Paragard IUD Breakage Reports

Based on the data collected from federal health officials, the chances of Paragard IUDs breaking are higher during the removal process. The FEARS (FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System) received nearly 9,000 reports from women who had removed this device. In the first part of 2023, the FDA received over 900 reports of the device breaking when it was being removed.

Since FEARS works as a voluntary reporting system, a few health experts think that the total count might undercount the actual number of women who have truly suffered from IUD breakage.

Broken Paragard IUDs and Their Complications

The moment the T-shaped arms of the IUD break while in use or when it is being removed, it can make a woman suffer from other severe and chronic health consequences. It includes infertility, organ perforation, organ damage, and extreme pain.

There are times when women need to opt for hysteroscopy or any other invasive surgery to take out the broken pieces of the device from their bodies. Also, women with major harm done to the uterus might have to opt for a hysterectomy so that their uterus gets removed.

The FDA received several thousand reports on IUD breakage. Out of all these complaints, close to 4,800 were considered severe. There were about 15 cases of Paragard IUD breakage that led to death.

Side Effects of IUDs

The side effects start to show either at the time of the insertion or right after that. The common ones include:

• Cramping
• Extreme pelvic or abdominal pain
• Dizziness
• Spotting or bleeding

Other major side effects that need attention and proper treatment include:

Menstrual bleeding changes

Every hormonal and non-hormonal IUD leads to spotting in-between periods for almost 6 months after the device gets inserted into the body. The hormonal IUDs can result in heavy periods, which can get lighter over time. However, women who use non-hormonal IUDs can witness an increase in their menstrual flow for a long time.

Infection

An infection happens when bacteria enter the uterus or cervix. It is a common side effect in the first few days of the device insertion. Women need to keep a check on PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease) and consult the doctor if they feel they are exhibiting signs of it.

Embedment, Expulsion, and Migration

This takes place when the IUD gets attached to the uterus wall. It is very common when the IUD is inserted a short while after a woman has given birth. Migration takes place when the IUD shifts to another position within the uterus. This usually has a chance to occur within the first three months of the device insertion.

Expulsion takes place when the IUD moves out of the uterus. Again, the chances of this happening are within the first three months, when the device can simply fall out of the uterus.

The Legal Solution

Women who feel that they are exhibiting any of the signs of side effects should get in touch with a doctor. Instant medical care and treatment are essential. Once they have their medical records and documents in place, it’s time to opt for a lawyer.

TorHoerman Law says that a lawyer studies a case of Paragard IUD breakage or any other mishap and decides whether a woman will qualify to file a lawsuit. If they do, the lawyer will work for it, use the relevant evidence, and create a strong case to get them fair compensation to cover all their economic and non-economic damages.

Wrapping up, women do have complete agency in the choice of birth control they want to use. However, they must do research and know which option can cause harm to their body and which option is hassle-free. However, those who have witnessed the physical injuries and side effects of Paragard IUDs should seek legal assistance.