What Injuries Does the Paragard T 380A Cause?
The Paragard T 380A is an intrauterine device (IUD) used to prevent pregnancy in women for as long as 10 years. A medical professional inserts the device into the woman’s uterus. When a doctor attempts to take the device out of the woman, its T-shaped design can allow it to break. The remaining pieces of the device may be difficult for the doctor to remove, causing injuries if they stay in the woman’s body.
There are a variety of injuries that the Paragard T 380A IUD can cause, including perforation of the uterus or cervix, infertility, allergic reactions to the remaining pieces in the body, and more. If you sustained injuries because your Paragard IUD broke during removal, a mass torts attorney can help you seek compensation.
Paragard Side Effects
The Paragard IUD can have many side effects for any women who use it. These side effects, which can range from mild to severe, may occur even when the device is functioning properly.
Some side effects of the Paragard T 380A IUD include:
- Heavier periods
- Longer periods
- Spotting between periods
- Pain during sex
- Vaginal irritation
- Vaginal discharge
- Cramping
When to Call a Doctor
While these side effects are common, it’s important to know when to call a doctor. When you have the Paragard T380A IUD inserted in your uterus, you should contact a medical professional if:
- You get a positive pregnancy test or believe you are pregnant
- You start experiencing pelvic pain during sex or any time at all
- You notice genital sores
- You believe you were exposed to a sexually transmitted disease
- You have concerns about your Paragard IUD falling out
- The bleeding you experience is severe or prolonged
- The Paragard threads become longer or you cannot feel them at all
A physician can determine if your Paragard IUD is still placed correctly. If not, they can attempt to remove the IUD and put in a new one.
Paragard Dangers
While Paragard is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, there are many other potential dangers involved with using the product. Many of these issues occur when a medical professional tries to take the device out. During removal, the design intends for the device’s arms to fold upwards. However, in some cases, the device’s arm breaks off and remains in the body.
This poses many considerable dangers, including:
- The IUD could migrate to another part of the body
- The remaining pieces of the IUD could get lodged into another organ
- Infertility could occur if there is too much damage to the uterus or other reproductive organs
- It may be too difficult to remove the broken IUD pieces, requiring the woman to undergo several procedures to get them out
Even after the pieces are removed, the damage may already be done. Each of the dangers listed above can cause severe injuries, especially if a broken piece punctures another organ or part of the body.
Types of Paragard IUD Injuries
With the many dangers that the Paragard IUD can cause comes several types of injuries. These injuries can range from mild to severe, based on what happens to the broken IUD pieces and how long they remain inside the woman’s body.
Common injuries caused by the Paragard T 380A IUD include:
- Perforation of the uterus or cervix
- Punctured organs (wherever the broken pieces migrate to)
- Infections
- Pelvic inflammatory disease, which can result in pelvic pain and infertility
- Inflammation
- Scarring inside or outside the uterus
Any injury so close to a woman’s reproductive system can cause them to experience severe pain and fertility issues. Some treatments are mild and only require taking an antibiotic, while other women might have to undergo surgery – possibly even a hysterectomy that leaves them unable to ever become pregnant.
The Paragard T 380A IUD Is Also Associated With a Brain Injury
Another injury linked to the Paragard IUD is a brain injury called intracranial hypertension. Intracranial hypertension occurs when there is a build-up of pressure around the brain, which can cause persistent and long-lasting problems. Symptoms of intracranial hypertension include:
- A constant throbbing headache
- Temporary loss of vision
- Fatigue
- Continuously feeling sick
- Irritability
Treatments for intracranial hypertension include:
- Taking diuretics to lessen or eliminate the extra fluid around the brain
- Taking steroid medications to help with vision loss and headaches
- Receiving regular lumbar punctures to remove excess fluid from the spine, which can help remove pressure on the brain
If these treatments don’t work, people who suffer from intracranial hypertension might have to undergo surgery to fix the problem. Typically, people who require surgery for intracranial hypertension have shunt surgery. When doctors perform this surgery, they take a small, flexible tube and put it in the area of the head where there is fluid. The tube then diverts the fluid to another part of the body, relieving the pressure on the brain.
Paragard Lawsuits Are Already Being Filed
Many women have already filed lawsuits because of injuries associated with the Paragard T 380A IUD. There are over 3,000 active cases where women state their Paragard IUD broke inside their bodies, causing injuries. These injuries were severe enough that the women incurred damages, including financial and non-financial losses.
Has the FDA Issued a Recall for the Paragard T 380A IUD?
Despite concerns about the Paragard T 380A IUD breaking into pieces inside women’s bodies, no manufacturers or government agencies have recalled the product. As a result, the product is still on the market today without adequate warnings about the dangers this device can cause.
In April 2014, there was a Paragard IUD recall, but not because the device can break into pieces. Only two lots of the devices were recalled, and it was due to a lack of assurance that the devices were sterile. Soon after that recall, Paragard devices were fully back on the market.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not forced a mandatory recall, and the makers of the Paragard T 380A IUD have not done a voluntary recall. The product liability attorneys in our network are ready to help women injured by the Paragard T 380A IUD hold the manufacturers accountable for knowingly putting a dangerous product on the market.
Do I Qualify for a Paragard Lawsuit?
As mentioned above, many women have filed lawsuits because of injuries they sustained from the Paragard IUD. The number of lawsuits will likely continue to grow as long as this product remains available for use without adequate warnings.
To qualify for the Paragard lawsuit, you must be female and meet the following criteria:
- Currently have or had the Paragard T 380A device inserted in your body
- Had a complication occur during removal of the device that caused your injuries and losses
If you meet these criteria, the mass tort lawsuit lawyers from our network can help. They understand that companies should be held liable for injuries, especially if they are aware their products are hurting people. You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s negligence, even a large corporation. Our network of attorneys can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Contraceptive Failure with the Paragard T 380A IUD
On top of the damage a Paragard T 380A IUD can cause during removal, there are cases where the device has failed as a contraceptive as well. Some of these failures occurred because the device expelled on its own – in other words, the device fell out without the woman knowing.
Women who expel the Paragard IUD more frequently include:
- Women who have never been pregnant
- Women who have heavy or prolonged periods
- Women who have severe menstrual pain
- Women younger than the age of 25
- Women who previously expelled an IUD
- Women who inserted the IUD immediately after childbirth
Research Confirms Contraceptive Failure and Ectopic Pregnancy Risk
According to a study about the Paragard IUD’s failure as a contraceptive, ectopic pregnancy is an important factor to consider. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the embryo implants outside the uterus, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. Ectopic pregnancy can cause major complications, including a ruptured fallopian tube, life-threatening internal bleeding, or even death.
In addition to increasing the risk of ectopic pregnancy, researchers found that the IUD failed as a contraceptive in some cases.
Women Who Sustain Injuries from the Paragard IUD Could Recover Compensation
Women whose Paragard IUD broke inside their bodies and caused injuries may be able to recover compensation. The personal injury and mass tort attorneys in our network can help Paragard victims file the paperwork and documentation needed to hold the liable party accountable and recover from their losses. In personal injury cases like these, the injured person can recover both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are tangible monetary losses the victim incurred because of their injuries. These damages are usually proven with bills, statements, receipts, and the like. For example, the economic damages that a plaintiff could recover after getting hurt by a Paragard T 380A IUD include:
- Medical bills – You could include the cost of all your medical bills in damages for the lawsuit, such as diagnostic testing, doctor visits, hospitalizations, surgeries, medications, and any other medical expenses you incurred.
- Future medical expenses – If you have long-term injuries that require medical treatment in the future, you could recover compensation for future medical expenses as well. An attorney from our network can help calculate the value of your projected future medical expenses, such as additional procedures, therapy, rehabilitation, and more.
- Lost income – If you were unable to work while you recovered from your injuries, you could recover compensation for the income you lost during that time – even if you were out of work for a day for a doctor’s appointment.
- Lost earning potential – If your injuries are severe and you cannot work in the same capacity or return to work at all, you could recover compensation for your lost earning potential, including future salary increases and bonuses.
- Infertility treatments: Infertility treatments are costly and rarely covered by insurance. If you are now dealing with infertility as a result of your injuries, you could include the costs of these treatments in your damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages do not have a set monetary value. Instead, they are intangible losses related to physical or emotional pain and suffering.
For example, the non-economic damages that a plaintiff could recover after being injured by a Paragard include:
- Physical pain and suffering – You could recover compensation for the physical pain, anguish, discomfort, or inconvenience you experienced because of your injuries or the treatments you had to go through.
- Emotional distress – If you experienced negative psychological issues because of the injuries you incurred, you could recover compensation for emotional distress. Negative psychological issues may include anxiety, fear, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The attorneys in our network can review your damages to determine how much compensation you may be eligible to receive. Once we have this amount, we can attempt to negotiate a settlement. Many cases settle before they go to trial. If we can’t reach a fair settlement, our attorneys are experienced litigators who can represent you at trial and fight for your right to recover compensation.
Connect with an Attorney From Our Network Today
If you suffered injuries caused by the Paragard T 380A IUD, the Paragard IUD Lawsuit attorney in our network are ready to help you fight for justice and recover compensation from the liable party. We can manage your case from start to finish, providing you with legal guidance and support every step of the way.
No one should have to deal with the consequences of a faulty device. You deserve to hold the responsible company accountable for your injuries – especially if they caused irreversible harm. To get started, contact us online today for a free case evaluation.