ParaGard IUD Lawsuit

Filing a ParaGard lawsuit is an option for women who allegedly suffered serious injuries and complications due to breakage, embedment, expulsion, or migration of the copper IUD.

Contact a ParaGard Lawyer Today

The nationwide law firm of Bernstein Liebhard LLP is investigating injury reports involving ParaGard, a copper IUD marketed by Teva Pharmaceuticals. Our attorneys are seeking to hear from women who suffered any of the following complications after receiving ParaGard:

  • IUD embedded in the uterus
  • Uterine perforation
  • IUD migration
  • IUD breakage leading to surgery
  • Copper wire left behind in the body, resulting in inflammation and injury
  • Infections
  • Scarring
  • Organ damage
  • Ectopic pregnancy

If you or someone you love were injured because of ParaGard, our attorneys will evaluate your case at for free. To obtain your confidential and no-obligation case review, please contact our ParaGard lawyers by filling out the form on this page, or call (888) 994-5118.

What is ParaGard?

The ParaGard Intrauterine Device (IUD) is a long-lasting, hormone free, reversible method of birth control that’s more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. The T-shaped device consists of a plastic frame around which copper wire has been coiled.

ParaGard must be inserted by a doctor and can remain in place for up to 10 years. The ParaGard removal procedure must also be performed by a physician.

It’s believed that ParaGard triggers an inflammatory reaction that is toxic to both sperm and egg, thus preventing conception. While it was once thought that ParaGard would also damage or prevent a fertilized embryo from implanting in the uterus, current evidence does not support this theory.

The ParaGard IUD begins working as soon as it is inserted, so women are not required to use a back-up method of contraception. For this reason, ParaGard is considered an alternative to Plan B emergency birth control pills.

ParaGard is currently the only copper, hormone-free IUD available for sale in the United States.

ParaGard Side Effects

Some of the most common ParaGard side effects include:

  • Bleeding between periods
  • Cramps
  • Severe menstrual pain and heavy bleeding

ParaGard can also cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, or PID, an infection of the uterus. PID is most likely to occur within the first 20 days after insertion.

According to Teva’s website, the ParaGard IUD may be difficult to remove “because it is stuck in the uterus.” In such a case, surgery might be required to retrieve ParaGard from the body.

While fewer than 1% of women will become pregnant while using ParaGard, those who do conceive face an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy occurs outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube, and is always a medical emergency. If left untreated, an ectopic pregnancy can cause internal bleeding, infection, and even death.

ParaGard Expulsion and Breakage

According to one recent study, more than 10% of ParaGard users will experience expulsion of the device, in which the copper IUD migrates and is expelled outside of the uterus or completely out of the body. By comparison, less than 5% of Mirena users will experience this complication. Partial expulsion of ParaGard could require surgical removal of the IUD.

In 2015, a study published in the Open Journal of Clinical & Medical Case Reports followed a gynecological practice in Chicago for a period of 3 years. Seven patients experienced ParaGard breakage during that time, and all underwent hysteroscopic removal of the IUD. However, doctors were ultimately unable to remove a device arm from one of those patients.

While Paragard breakage remains rare, the authors of the study suggested this complication is likely underreported.

Since 2010, the FDA has actually received more than 1,600 reports of ParaGard breakage. Many of the incidents occurred well before the end of the IUD’s expected life-span and caused the device to become embedded in the uterine tissue. In other cases, ParaGard fractured or broke into pieces during removal, and in some cases the copper wire was missing entirely.

ParaGard complications associated with embedment and breakage often result in the need for additional surgery, as well as infertility and other permanent injuries.

Learn More About Filing a ParaGard Lawsuit

A growing number of women who allegedly experienced injuries and complications due to ParaGard expulsion, migration, or breakage have filed lawsuits in U.S. courts that accuse Teva Pharmaceuticals of:

  • Failing to warn women and doctors about the risks associated with the ParaGard.
  • Misrepresenting the copper IUD as a safe and effective method of birth control.
  • Designing a defective and dangerous medical device.

If you or someone you love experienced serious complications because of the ParaGard IUD, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other injury-related damages.

Please call (888) 994-5118 to schedule your free, confidential, and no-obligation ParaGard lawsuit review today.

  1. Paragard.com (2019) “Highlights of Prescribing Information” https://www.paragard.com/pdf/PARAGARD-PI.pdf
  2. Kaiser Family Foundation (N.D.) “Intrauterine Devices (IUD): Access for Women in the United States” https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/fact-sheet/intrauterine-devices-iuds-access-for-women-in-the-u-s/
  3. Mayo Clinic (N.D.) “ParaGard (Copper IUD)” https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/paragard/about/pac-20391270
  4. org (2016) “Continuation of copper and levonorgestrel intrauterine devices: a retrospective cohort study” https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(17)30416-7/fulltext
  5. Bloomberg Law (2018) “Teva Must Face Suit Over Broken IUD” https://biglawbusiness.com/teva-must-face-suit-over-broken-iud
Last Modified: February 6, 2020

Get the latest news and litigation updates about this case by following us on Facebook. Click the "Like" button below.

 
 
 

Follow Us

RXInjuryHelp.com on Google+  RXInjuryHelp.com on Facebook  RXInjuryHelp.com on LinkedIn  RXInjuryHelp.com on Twitter  RXInjuryHelp.com on YouTube  RXInjuryHelp.com on Pinterest

Skip to content