Bayer announced that by the end of this year, they will be no longer selling Essure birth control to the U.S. market. Bayer sites that the reason for this decision was, “based on a decline in U.S. sales of Essure in recent years and the conclusion that the Essure business is no longer sustainable.” However, there has been much concern over the safety and effectiveness of this medical device causing the U.S. to be the last country where this product was sold.Essure was put on the market in 2002 as a device to cause permanent sterilization in women. Essure is a coil that is inserted into the fallopian tubes through the vagina and cervix. It causes scar tissue to form in the fallopian tubes therefore blocking sperm from fertilizing the egg. Unfortunately, many serious complications have been associated with Essure. According to the FDA, it can cause perforation of the uterus or fallopian tube, migrate to the abdominal or pelvic cavity, or allow for unintended pregnancy. In 2015, the FDA even required Essure to have a black box warning - the strongest warning available - to inform patients of these risks that are linked to Essure. In conjunction with this warning, doctors were required to use a three-page checklist for informing patients of the potential problems associated with device before they agreed to implantation.Bayer has reported that in recent years, sales for Essure have declined approximately 40% and attributes their loss of sales to women preferring reversible contraception such as intrauterine devices (IUD) and “misleading publicity.”The publicity mentioned included studies that found deprecating facts such as, “The risk of having a second procedure was 10 times higher in women who got Essure than among women who got laparoscopy [the standard surgery to block or “tie” fallopian tubes],” as reported by NBC News in 2015. If you are have an Essure medical device and you experienced a perforation of the uterus or fallopian tubes, you endured health complications as the result of an allergic reaction to this device, or if you had or are planning to have surgery to remove your Essure device, you may be able to make a claim. This is a dangerous device that has harmed thousands of women and Bayer should be held accountable for putting female patients at risk. Call Periscope Group today to see if we are able to help you.
For interviews or to tell your story, contact Jennifer Stanich-Banmiller at (925) 964-1485 or at info@periscopegroup.com.
