Vaginal Mesh Implants Banned After Over 700 Women In Chronic Pain Launched Lawsuit

Vaginal mesh implants are now banned in Australia after over 700 women launched a class action lawsuit after they were left in horrific pain.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration decided to take out the transvaginal mesh for the sole purpose of pelvic prolapse and single incision mini-slings from the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) because of a review of the latest international studies.

The review was done after over 700 women complained that the implants had left them with chronic, debilitating pain and unable to have sex and launched a class action lawsuit against manufacturer Johnson & Johnson, in which the findings are expected to be handed down by the federal court next year.

The medical watchdog discovered that the vaginal mesh implants, which was used to treat pelvic prolapse and urinary incontinence were more of a risk than a benefit.

“Based on this new information, and since the publication by the TGA of the Results of review into urogynaecological surgical mesh implants, the TGA is of the belief that the benefits of using transvaginal mesh products in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse do not outweigh the risks these products pose to patients,” a TGA statement said.

“The TGA also considers that there is a lack of adequate scientific evidence before the TGA for it to be satisfied that the risks to patients associated with the use of mesh products as single incision mini-slings for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence are outweighed by their benefits.”

In February, a Senate inquiry into transvaginal mesh products was launched after Senator Derryn Hinch described their use in Australia as one of the country’s worst health scandals. The results of the inquiry are also expected to be handed down early next year.

The bans will take effect from January 4.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia in July, Louise King said the vaginal mesh left her with debilitating chronic pain. “I’ve had so much bad health since that operation. There are days that I can’t get out of bed and there are days that I try to do things and i just can’t,” she said.

She said that she was presented with no other option but to have the mesh implant when she suffered a vaginal prolapse in 2006. She also revealed that she was unable to have sex with her husband after the operation.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk