Gibbs Law Group LLP

Vaginal Mesh Implants

Vaginal mesh implants and slings have become a popular treatment method for pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence because they are considered by many doctors to be a simpler solution than conventional surgical treatment. However, the FDA in a recent Safety Communication stated that “serious complications… are not rare” and that “it is not clear that transvaginal POP repair with mesh is more effective than traditional non-mesh repair in all patients with POP and it may expose patients to greater risk”.

Types of Vaginal Mesh Products

Surgical mesh materials can be divided into four general categories:

  • non-absorbable synthetic, such as polypropylene or polyester
  • absorbable synthetic, such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) or poly(caprolactone)
  • biologic, such as acellular collagen derived from cows or pigs
  • composite, a combination of any of the three above

Most surgical meshes cleared for use in vaginal mesh implants are composed of polypropylene. However, recent studies indicate that polypropylene is not as inert as previously thought, and can degrade when placed in the human body.

History of Vaginal Mesh Products

Surgical mesh products were originally designed in the 1950s as a treatment for hernias. Consisting of a woven material, the mesh provides support to damaged or weakened tissue- often in the abdominal wall- to prevent an organ, intestine or fatty tissue from squeezing through that tissue. Vaginal mesh was introduced in the 1990’s for treatment of pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence in a similar way, by providing support for the prolapsed organs or urethra and bladder.

However, the FDA has now reported an unexpectedly high prevalence of dangerous complications associated with the use of vaginal mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. These include mesh erosion and contraction, which may require surgical removal of the mesh. At the same time, the FDA has asserted that transvaginal mesh may not offer any significant benefits over traditional surgical options.

Injured by Transvaginal Mesh? Free consultation.

Our transvaginal mesh lawyers represent women nationwide who have suffered injuries from vaginal mesh implants. If you or a loved one suffered vaginal mesh injuries, you may have a legal right to financial compensation. For a free and confidential consultation about your possible transvaginal mesh lawsuit, please fill out the form to the right or call (866) 981-4800.

Women Representing Women

Ms. A. J. De Bartolomeo, a partner at Gibbs Law Group, represents women injured after using transvaginal mesh as well as Mirena and NuvaRing birth control products, and serves on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committees for the Yaz and Yasmin Birth Control and Pradaxa lawsuits. Our personal injury attorneys have also represented those injured by Medtronic medical devices, Sprint Fidelis leads, SSRIs, Actos, and GranuFlo. We have recovered settlements worth hundreds of millions for our clients.

Our law firm has decades of experience successfully representing people injured by some of the nation’s largest and most powerful corporations. Our attorneys pride themselves on being there for our clients at every stage of the litigation from intake through verdict or settlement.