Essure Side Effects Legal News Articles & Interviews

Santa Clara, CA On the ”Essure Problems” Facebook Page, which was started in 2011, Angie Firmalino advises about 44,000 women, called E-sisters, not to discuss their settlement as it comes with a confidentiality agreement that includes “restrictions about discussing your settlement online… discussing your settlement will jeopardize it.” Ms. Firmalino, who started the group, is referring to the $1.6 billion Bayer is paying to thousands of women who said they have suffered severe, long-term health problems from Bayer’s Essure birth control implant.

Santa Clara, CA Almost two years after Bayer stopped selling Essure in the U.S., and four years after the FDA told Bayer its birth control device needed a black box warning regarding potential serious side effects, the pharma giant will pay $1.6 billion to settle Essure lawsuits brought by nearly 39,000 women in the U.S. who suffered serious health complications as a result of Essure fallopian tube implants.

Bayer says it will no longer sell Essure in the U.S. due to decline in sales. Bayer doesn’t say, however, that its decision comes after the FDA threatened the drug giant with civil and criminal penalties if it didn’t warn patients about adverse Essure side effects.

York, PA: Last month a group of women, including "Essure Problems" Facebook representatives and Madris Tomes from Device Events, met with FDA chief Scott Gottlieb in an attempt to have the Essure sterilization device withdrawn from the U.S. market. At the meeting, Tomes presented data from the FDA's own MAUDE ((Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience) database that the FDA and their legal counsel in attendance were seemingly unaware of. One would think the FDA may be embarrassed being caught off-guard like this, to say the least.

Washington, DC. Essure critics last week met with FDA chief Scott Gottlieb to discuss problems with the sterilization device, particularly Bayer's failure to warn of Essure's serious complications. But Gottlieb said they need to wait for Bayer to finish its safety study - in 2023! Perhaps those critics should have brought to the meeting lawyers, guns and money.

Jefferson City, MO:A St. Louis Circuit Judge in 2016 ruled that an Essure lawsuit filed by 92 women against Bayer could proceed in Missouri, but now that may not be the case. All the plaintiffs claimed they suffered injuries after having the permanent birth control device implanted, and they contended that Bayer is subject to jurisdiction in this state because it does business, generates revenue and conducts marketing for Essure in Missouri.

Moline, IL: To give some idea of the damage Essure has done, Amanda’s support group—Essure Problems-- has grown from 250 women when she joined to over 35,000 members. “We have physicians visit our Facebook page, telling us they once implanted the device and are now trying to perfect their removal technique,” she says.

Decatur, IL: Litigation involving Essure is taking its toll on Bayer. In less than a year, the permanent birth control device manufacturer has seen lawsuits more than double, and it has been removed from every global market, except in the U.S.

Richmond, VA: Bayer has stopped selling its Essure outside of the U.S. citing “lack of interest” and “commercial reasons”. But those reasons may not be quite accurate. Many countries have banned the permanent sterilization device due to product and safety concerns. So, why is it safe for women in America?

Washington, DC: Bayer has announced that it is taking its female sterilization device, Essure, off the market in all countries where it is currently marketed and sold, except the US. The company said it was taking this action due to commercial reasons, and not because of allegations of side effects associated with the device.