QUESTION

What are the Risks Associated with Surgery to Remove Mirena IUD Birth Control?

27 ADD YOUR COMMENTS

ANSWER

In many cases, women have experienced severe problems where their Mirena IUD perforated the uterine wall, which may allow the device to migrate outside the uterus, damage surrounding organs or cause severe infection. This often results in the need for the Mirena IUD to be removed, sometimes requiring emergency surgery.

Although Bayer Healthcare has promoted Mirena as a safe and easily reversible form of long-acting birth control, which can remain in place for up to 5 years, complications associated with surgery to remove an embedded Mirena IUD from the uterus can carry substantial risks and result in permanent injury.

Lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are no longer accepting new cases for Mirena IUD perforation/removal. This page is maintained for informational purposes only.

Complications from a Mirena birth control may also result in a dangerous build up of fluid pressure around the brain, which could result in the need to remove the IUD. Mirena pseudotumor cerebri lawsuits are being evaluated for women who were left with severe headaches, vision problems and other side effects caused by damage to the optic nerve.

Mirena IUD Surgical Retrieval and Treatment

The Mirena is a T-shaped device implanted that is implanted in the uterus and coated with birth control drugs to prevent pregnancy. However, women may be left with severe and debilitating injuries that require Mirena to be removed if:

Mirena is supposed to be easily removable, with the doctor locating the guide strings that lead from the cervix to the Mirena IUD. However, a growing number of women are reporting problems where they have gone to their doctor after experiencing pain or discomfort, only to discover that the Mirena has migrated away from the original implant site. In cases where the Mirena has moved and punctured the uterus, surgical removal is often necessary, exposing the patient to the risk of further organ damage and infection.

Missing Mirena IUD strings are often one of the first signs that there the device has moved or perforated the uterus. If severe abdominal pain or abnormal vaginal bleeding develops, doctors will often consider the possibility that the Mirena IUD perforated the uterus.

In some cases it is necessary for the Mirena IUD to be located through the use of x-rays, ultrasonography or a pelvic MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). A diagnostic laparoscopy may be performed to identify the exact location of the IUD and remove it.

If the Mirena IUD is seen within the uterus on imaging exams, ultrasound guided removal or an operative hysterectomy may be necessary to remove the device.

If the IUD is not seen within the uterus, x-rays of the abdomen and pelvis are often recommended, with 2 to 3 different views often obtained for optimal localization. In some cases, a CT scan or MRI may be necessary to located a Mirena IUD that has completely perforated the uterus.

Find Out if Compensation is Available for a Removed Mirena IUD

Prompt diagnosis of Mirena IUD displacement is important to reduce the risk of severe complications and long-term injury that may result. As a result of the manufacturer’s failure to adequately warn about the Mirena IUD risks, many women have suffered severe injury and complications that may have been avoided with earlier detection.

According to allegations raised in many product liability lawsuits filed in courts throughout the country, Bayer Healthcare failed to adequately warn about the risk of perforations that may develop months or even years after Mirena is inserted. This not only prevented women from making an informed decision about whether to have the IUD implanted but delayed the diagnosis of the Mirena problems.

The Mirena lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are no longer reviewing potential cases for women who required removal due to perforation or migration injuries. However, additional claims are being evaluated for women diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri (PTC).

Austin Kirk

Last Updated June 8, 2018
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27 Comments

27 Comments • Add Your Comments

  • Ali says:

    What about women outside of the united states? Ive had mine in for 3 years and just found out it has perforated my uterus and is sitting right next to my ovary and I am awaiting surgery to have it removed.

    Posted on July 6, 2014 at 7:54 am

  • Natasha says:

    I’m from canada as well, I got my mirena in February I think, and just found out today that it’s now in my pelvic area, today is June 22, I went for 2 ultrasounds and a ct scan to find out where it was, I went to get it checked out cause I kept getting pressure pains down by the vagina area and by the butt, I had very bad pains one night that lasted for 3 hrs it felt like labour pains, the the other times it last maybe 45 min, but it was horrible, and I never had these pains ever before till I got this mirena, so. NOw I’m just waiting for a phone call from a surgeon to get it removed. I hope this helps people, to let them know it’s not always safe.

    Posted on July 22, 2014 at 11:05 pm

  • Stephanie says:

    I think mirena is a joke, I had mine implanted in a year the second month it migrated and my Dr at that time didn’t want to try to do surgery. After she felt it migrated I know its still in me because me and the bf have unprotected sex every time . I just want another baby one day .

    Posted on September 18, 2014 at 8:54 am

  • samantha says:

    I have been having severe pain in my lower abdominal area and lower back like labour pains. I got my marinea in 2009 I have not been to the doctor yet but I can feel the strings under skin 🙁 my appointment is this Saturday im freaking out. I live in houston

    Posted on September 18, 2014 at 11:58 pm

  • Lisa says:

    I am at my gyn waiting for a unplanned ultrasound because when he removed my mire a a few minutes ago it came out without arms ?!? Now may have to surgically remove ?!? Is this normal ???

    Posted on April 28, 2015 at 3:42 pm

  • Erin says:

    Thank you for this site! I have been terribly ill for the last two months. I have never in my life been this sick. Throwing up every day, sweats, an awful pain in my pelvic area. After many hospital visits, 2 IV antibiotic courses, 2 oral anti biotic courses, they finally saw that my IUD is embedded and that is what has been causing all of this. I now have to have a surgery to remove it. If I had known this was a very relevant side effect, I would never have had it! I was told it’s a 1/1000 women who have had this happen to, but now that it’s happened to me, and done my research, I have come to find it is VERY common! To me, it is very frightening that these are still being used after so many complaints. So if I can somehow prevent another person from using it, this post was worth it. I never want someone else to go through being this sick….

    Posted on March 17, 2016 at 2:07 pm

  • amal says:

    I just saw today my doctor . I asked her to remove the merina IUD. Because after 2 years i want a second baby. She didn’t fill it.and with ultrasound also no found no seen. I did right after the xrays. I’m waiting for my doctor call to know if it migrated out of my uterus. Hopeful not. Thank you for all information.

    Posted on July 13, 2016 at 9:32 pm

  • Kathleen says:

    I had my Mirena removed and replaced in August 2017. I had a follow up in September. That month before follow up I had severe “contraction” like cramping and dizziness. I was literally brought to my knees once and it felt like labor contractions. At my follow up, it was not found and had to return for an ultrasound where it was ALSO not detected. I was sent to X-ray where they found it floating around in my abdomen so I had to have surgery to get it removed. I have noticed several physical issues that I just found are all reported issues with the use of this device that have me worried now. Steer clear ladies!

    Posted on January 26, 2017 at 7:27 am

  • Joy says:

    I have had two merina iuds. First I never had any issues with so I opted for second. Within months I had to have it removed due to pain and bleeding. It was removed surgically while my tubes were tied at the same time. My pain is horrible now and have actually talked about having hysterectomy.

    Posted on September 6, 2017 at 6:39 pm

  • Stephanie says:

    ALMOST RUINED MY LIFE!

    Posted on November 15, 2018 at 12:21 am

  • Chasity says:

    My 5 years are up and I am waiting to have my IUD surgically removed because its embedded…..I am terrified. I waited this whole time, through the constant pain, the migraines, being ill…through it all..I gave this the full 5 years. I didnt get pregnant, but birth control shouldn’t lead to this! I was soo happy to finally be getting it removed and now I dont know what feel.

    Posted on December 5, 2018 at 10:06 pm

  • Charyn says:

    I have had 2 Mirena IUDs and the first time I had no issues. When I had another put in after having my baby I started to have pain but I thought it was because of having sex after not having sex for awhile with my husband I usually do have some pain so I didn’t think anything of it. I went to my month check up to make sure it was working fine for my and my OB couldn’t see the strings so she ordered a ultrasound and still couldn’t see it. She then ordered me to go to another place to get an x-ray done and a couple days later I called and at first was told on the phone that they could pull it out still and it would be quick. I had an appointment set and went where then I was told I had to have surgery. So now my surgery is set for October 30 which is my sons birthday but I have been having terrible pains like labor pains, pains down by my vagina and my butt area. I have migraines and I feel like my eyes have been getting bad and I already wear glasses. I’m freaked out because I’ve never had to have surgery before I definitely hope that this will help someone else to stay away from Mirena IUDs.

    Posted on October 20, 2019 at 5:54 am

  • Mary says:

    If someone had warned me earlier I probably would not have listened. But now I have an IUD somewhere in my body, the doctor is not even sure where it is at this time. An ultrasound of uterus did not show anything. She has tried to pull it out three time in the doctor’s office. The 3rd time was crazy painful and still nothing came out. Now waiting for appointment for surgical removal. I don’t even know what to expect. Just praying and hoping for the best.

    Posted on November 14, 2019 at 5:53 pm

  • Linda says:

    I got the IUD IN THE EIGHTY. IHAD IT 4 ABOUT 3 YEARS EVERY DAY I WAS IN PAIN BLEEDING WHEN IT WASN’T TIME FOR MY PERIOD PAIN ALL THE TIME I WAS AFRAID TO GET IT REMOVED BECAUSE I DIDN’T WANT TO HAVE IT REMOVED. BUT IT GOT SOOOO I HAD TO HAVE IT REMOVED MESSED UP MY INSIDES. IT WAS TOO MUCH PAIN.I WANTED TO KNOW IF IT IS TOO LATE TO GET COMPINCATED FOR ALL I WENT THROUGH.

    Posted on January 14, 2020 at 12:19 pm

  • Sherri says:

    Went in to have removed now have to have surgery

    Posted on February 19, 2020 at 2:05 pm

  • Jazmin says:

    I had the same problem. I had an ectopic pregnancy with the iud. I found out I had an ectopic pregnancy because of intense abdominal pain. Then it was a long process to have the pregnancy terminated. Now I am having to get the iud surgically removed because my doctor was unable to remove it and it has now moved from its original placement.

    Posted on March 4, 2020 at 6:45 pm

  • Meghan says:

    I recently had a hysterectomy after I’ve had nothing but issues since insertion 9/2018, finally got it surgically removed 4/2019 after it had moved. While my Dr was doing my hysterectomy, he found a hernia. I’m wondering if the Mirena could be at fault for that…

    Posted on March 5, 2020 at 12:53 am

  • Sonia says:

    Hello My name is Sonia,
    On 06/18. I was advised by my doctor to have have an IUD. Inserted. Seen that You have a fibroid. IUD will help reduced the size and will also help with your painfull periods. So I agreed. A year passed and I had no problems.
    On October of 2019. I was told by my doctor that the fibroid was grown and I have two ovarian cyst. To schedule an appointment in two months to check to see if they were resolved. As the months passed and started to spot every single day with headaches and vision problems. On April 8th I made an appointment to have it removed. The doctor cannot find the string after trying for an hr. I Have to wait for an appointment for surgical removed, after the pandemic.. Please do your researches before making a decision on an IUD . Thank you for reading my story. Hope it helps.
    Best of luck! Be safe during this crisis .

    Posted on April 11, 2020 at 2:33 am

  • Kowsar says:

    Hi I had my iud at 8/17 it wasn’t my first other with my other baby but this one cause me a lot hair lost, headache to much stress I call a gyn to remove it who is not the one who inserted but broke the iud one arm and say is to hard and broke it I get mad I call the orginal doctor who inserted he let me in and dilated my uterus check it say didn’t find anything send to sonogram the find in the regular one but the use transvaginal one and say the piece struck at lower part of cervix but my doctor say come let me try one more time and I am waiting to go there.

    Posted on July 8, 2020 at 10:20 pm

  • Concepcion says:

    I may be wrong, but I may be right. Mirena ruined my life. I only had it in for a few months, took it out due to SEVERE pain and abnormal periods. For about 4 months after, I kept getting periods twice a month, something that has never happened go me. At about month 5, I became pregnant to find out it was ectopic. I had to get my right ovary and tube taken out… if i would go back in time I would.. I will never use ANY birth control ever again thanks to this experience.

    Posted on July 27, 2020 at 12:33 pm

  • Concepcion says:

    I may be wrong, but I may be right. Mirena ruined my life. I only had it in for a few months, took it out due to SEVERE pain and abnormal periods. For about 4 months after, I kept getting periods twice a month, something that has never happened go me. At about month 5, I became pregnant to find out it was ectopic. I had to get my right ovary and tube taken out… if i would go back in time I would.. I will never use ANY birth control ever again thanks to this experience.

    Posted on July 30, 2020 at 3:56 pm

  • Pat says:

    Just found out there is a runaway IUD in pelvic area.
    I had one in 1973/74. It preforated my Uterus, was in hospital. I assumed it was removed, now its showing up 45 yr later , well after 2 kids,
    and a hysterectomy in 1989.
    Will See OBGYN on tues, really curious what they will say.

    Posted on July 31, 2020 at 4:16 pm

  • Ashly says:

    I had a Mirena placed 12 years ago. A few weeks late the doctor checked and said it had just came out. I told them this wasnt possible I would have known. I showed them where I was having pain and they responded with it cant be there. I was dismissed. I tried for a baby for 10 years and finally gave up. Today I had an xray for kidney stones and they found the Mirena exactly where I said it was in my right mid abdomen 12 years ago! Something has to be done about this. I was robbed my opportunity to have another child, I have had unexplained stomach issues for years, and now will require surgery. No one would listen.

    Posted on November 13, 2020 at 11:20 pm

  • Concepcion says:

    I may be wrong, but I may be right. Mirena ruined my life. I only had it in for a few months, took it out due to SEVERE pain and abnormal periods. For about 4 months after, I kept getting periods twice a month, something that has never happened go me. At about month 5, I became pregnant to find out it was ectopic. I had to get my right ovary and tube taken out… if i would go back in time I would.. I will never use ANY birth control ever again thanks to this experience.

    Posted on November 22, 2020 at 1:45 am

  • CRISTAL says:

    I had to have my merina IUD removed due to strings missing that was the worst experience of my life . So much pain they gave me so much numbing medicine that they said I was first patient that had so much and still feel the pain, it was 2 doctors ending in 4 2 to hold me down because it was so painful and 2 helping each other try to get my IUD out I have never screamed so loud and cussed at the doctor’s ever it was worse then labor. I do not know why they couldn’t get to the IUD I had blood all over me all over the floor all over the bed and all over the nurses finally they had to prop my legs up on the doctor to get better position and this did not take no half hr …I will never ever get an IUD again ! I’m still worried if the doctors messed me up inside for all that pain and blood they caused

    Posted on June 24, 2021 at 10:58 pm

  • Michelle says:

    My birth control string fell out when my IUD was put into place. The doctor refused to take it out. It has now been 5 years and a Polyp has appeared and is pulling in the string and needs to be removed. My insurance lapsed and I do not know what kind of help I can get at removing my birth control as it is a painful surgery needed to remove it before it becomes embedded in my cervix if it hasn’t already. Birth control should never do this to someone.

    Posted on March 23, 2022 at 9:39 am

  • Emma says:

    I have just had confirmed by my doctor that my iud has perforated outside my uterus in my peritoneal cavity embedded into my abdominal wall. Have had excruciating stomach cramps, heavy periods, nausea, migraines and my vision has become worse. I suspect it has been in my abdomen wall for this whole one and a half years because of how long I’ve been having the symptoms I just didn’t suspect it was from my mirena so I didn’t bother getting it checked until now. I’m waiting on surgery to have it removed send to find out if it had caused any further damage. I will never use again

    Posted on August 22, 2022 at 10:15 am

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