Transvaginal meshes or urogynaecological meshes are effective in treating stress incontinence. It’s a condition that causes bladder leakage in women while performing impact activities such as jumping or running. Women can also face it while they are coughing or sneezing. 

The condition is common for women after menopause or during childbirth. Close to 20% of women suffer from this issue, and mesh surgery helps reduce the rate of incontinence.

That aside, the meshes can also be beneficial for women who have POP (Pelvic Organ Prolapse). It affects women who have given birth. The condition develops when a woman’s pelvic organ, such as the uterus, rectum, or bladder, starts to sag and shift out of place. It can happen when the pelvic floor muscles, tissue, and ligaments that hold organs in place are damaged or weak.

Women who suffer from these symptoms can opt for reconstructive surgery with the use of a transvaginal mesh. However, life after using this mesh can be challenging, as many women face issues like recurrent pelvic problems and constant pain. As a result, there have been several lawsuits filed by women who have suffered, which has given the transvaginal mesh an unfavorable reputation.

In this article, we will delve into the complications caused by the transvaginal mesh and the legal remedy that women can look into.

Controversy Around Vaginal Mesh

Several short-term clinical trials have found that mesh implants have fewer complications and high-efficiency rates. But recently there has been increasing evidence of the reduced efficiency and high complication rates for POP.

Additionally, there is also reduced data on the success of these processes in the long run when implanted in more people. But there have been hints towards complication rates as NHS data reveals that one in 15 women needs to get their mesh implants removed surgically.

Based on a survey done on 2,220 women who have pelvic mesh implants for treating POP and stress urinary incontinence (SUI), nearly 59% reported that the implant didn’t solve the core issue. There were another 58% of women who said that they felt ample pain during sexual intercourse. This data was secured from a Health Issues Centre, which is a consumer advocacy group.

However, with more women starting to use the vaginal mesh, the complications became prevalent. As a result, women who suffered have filed a transvaginal mesh lawsuit to seek justice and compensation for the damages they have endured.

Complications of the Vaginal Mesh

According to the reports and anecdotal accounts of several women, the transvaginal mesh can lead to infection, pain, bleeding, and various other issues. The common complications that women face include:

• Mesh Erosion: The mesh can protrude or erode to the vaginal wall, resulting in discomfort, pain, and infection.
• Infection: The implants can result in pelvic inflammatory disease, abscesses, and urinary tract infections.
• Muscle and Nerve Damage: Women who have undergone the mesh implant can suffer from painful muscle tissue damage or nerve compression from abscesses or scar tissues.
• Pelvic Pain: The patients can witness pelvic pain apart from the discomfort they have at the time of sexual intercourse.
• Organ Perforation: The mesh might perforate or puncture the organs like the rectum or the bladder.
• Recurrence of SUI or POP: The mesh can fail to offer the required support, which might result in the recurrence of SUI or POP.
• Vaginal Shrinkage and Scarring: The scar tissue accumulation can result in vaginal shrinkage in certain cases.

The treatments that are available for mesh complications comprise pain medication, surgery, physical therapy, and antibiotics. There are a few women who would want to remove the mesh implant. They might also want to treat the affected area by replacing it with their tissue. Typically, the surgeons make use of less invasive techniques for removing the specific section of the mesh that leads to symptoms and restores correct pelvic function.

Is It Possible to Reverse the Surgery?

Simply put, mesh implants have been designed as a permanent solution. Hence, after the first few weeks of the surgery, it gets embedded with the nearby tissues so that it offers better pelvic support. When the implant gets exposed to the vagina, the doctors must cut the mesh and place a few stitches. This surgery is performed under local anesthesia.

But in case the patient suffers from other complications, like extreme pain, then there is a need for complete removal. Here, the surgery might take a few hours. Furthermore, the doctors should also assess the damage that might occur to the nerves and the organs located close by, such as the bowel and bladder.

Navigating the Legal Path

Based on the vaginal mesh lawsuit update of January 2024, close to 95% of the cases have been settled. That aside, the lawyers are also accepting cases. The average settlement amount for the cases ranges from $40,000 to $450,000. The plaintiffs whose cases were taken to trial have successfully received millions in their jury verdicts. 

TorHoerman Law states that patients should get in touch with an ace lawyer to file a lawsuit and find out whether they are eligible for one. The lawyer will assess the facts and evidence gathered and use it to build a compelling case that will draw on the fair compensation that a patient deserves. Furthermore, they also let the patient know about the probable payout they will receive based on their specific case strength.

The settlement amount is decided based on the individual suffering, the age of the patient, and the treatment they have undergone.

Finally, it is necessary for women to remedy their POP and SUI issues, but not at the cost of attracting other health issues. Even though the vaginal mesh seemed to be a beneficial solution, its side effects made it get a negative reputation. Therefore, women should be careful before choosing this treatment option and discuss the pros and cons with their healthcare provider. And those who have suffered can seek both medical and legal assistance.