Female contraception is common these days, with many medications, medical devices and methods available. One popular birth control method is the intrauterine device, or IUD.
There are many companies making different types of IUDs that work in different ways. Some use copper as the primary means of contraception while others use hormones. One of the most popular hormonal IUDs available goes by the brand name Mirena.
How Does the Mirena IUD Work?
Mirena is a hormonal IUD that is inserted into a woman’s uterus. Once inserted, the IUD continuously releases a small amount of the hormone levonorgesterel. The Mirena IUD is extremely effective and works primarily by preventing fertilization from occurring, rather than preventing implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterus.
Another advantage of the Mirena IUD is that it works for a long period of time (three to five years) without any intervention by the woman. And when the effective time period of Mirena passes or the woman decides she wants to try to get pregnant, the Mirena IUD can be removed and fertility restored. Because of these advantages, many women have chosen Mirena as their preferred form of birth control.
What’s Wrong with the Mirena IUD?
Many women experience progressively worsening vision as the optic nerve swelling increases. Most of these symptoms are similar to those people suffering from a brain tumor. There are several names to describe this condition, including Pseudotumor Cerebri (PTC) and Intracranial Hypertension (IH).
Depending on the woman, the effects of PTC or IH can sometimes be reversed, but it often results in permanent damage to a woman’s vision. Even if the effects can be reversed, it usually takes years of maintaining normal intracranial pressure in the brain. As a result of these problems, many lawsuits against Bayer, the maker of Mirena, have recently emerged.
It should be noted that there are other Mirena lawsuits against Bayer that were started earlier, but they allege different problems with the IUD, such as the uterine wall becoming punctured when the Mirena IUD migrates in the uterus. The lawsuits alleging fluid buildup and brain pressure (IH) are a recent development.
What’s the Status of the Mirena IH Lawsuits against Bayer?
Dozens of women who used Mirena and subsequently suffered from IH have sued Bayer, alleging that the hormone levonorgesterel has caused the buildup of fluid in the brain.
These cases are very early in the litigation process and are currently in the procedural stages, such as consolidation and transfer to a central federal court district and evidentiary hearings. A hearing regarding a motion to consolidate and transfer is currently scheduled for March of 2017.
If you are a woman who has used the Mirena IUD and experienced any of the above mentioned symptoms, you may be suffering from intracranial pressure. You should see your doctor to determine if you have too much cerebrospinal fluid and learn how to treat it.