When a woman gets an IUD, she expects that not only will it protect her from an unwanted pregnancy, but also it will be safe. However, millions of women are completely unaware that a Paragard design defect could not only prevent her from never getting pregnant again but expose her to a lifetime of complications.
About Paragard
Manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals, Paragard IUD provides a long-term birth control approved by the FDA since 1984. The ParaGard® Intrauterine Copper Contraceptive is a small, T-shaped intrauterine device (IUD) used to prevent pregnancy for up to ten years. Unlike other IUDs that use hormone progestin to prevent pregnancy, the ParaGard IUD is a non-hormonal IUD that releases copper to prevent fertilization. Literature brags of a pregnancy rate of less than 1 per 100 women each year.
Paragard Design Defect
Women are completely unaware that the Paragard has a design defect that happens during the removal process. This is when the device’s T-arm breaks. The design of the arm can become stuck or embedded in the uterus. This dangerous complication can impair fertility and lead to painful surgeries at an attempt of removal. These include hysteroscopy, laparotomy and in some cases, a complete hysterectomy. However, many times retrieval of the arm is impossible. During extraction, a woman’s uterus contracts. This makes finding the arm difficult.
Therefore, the risk of surgeries includes infection, bleeding, PID, tearing of the uterus or damage to the cervix, and complications from fluid or gas used in the procedure.
Paragard T-Arm Break Study
In 2015, the Open Journal of Clinical & Medical Case Reports published a study of Chicago gynecologists within a 3-year time frame. The study found 7 issues over the three years of a T-arm break. All required a hysteroscopic removal. One study participant was unable to have the arm removed. Experts suggested that these breaks are heavily underreported.
Get Compensation for Paragard IUD Breaks
If you or someone you love had a Paragard IUD that had a T-arm break, help is available. Financial compensation could be available. Contact us today to set up a free consultation during which we will listen to your story and discuss your legal rights and options. If you choose us to represent you, we will work with you on a contingency fee basis; this means you pay nothing until we have secured compensation for you, either through a jury verdict or settlement.