Many women in the Houston metro area and throughout the country suffering from pelvic organ prolapse have sought what they hope will be a safe and effective treatment. However, pelvic mesh implants are very risky as a treatment option. While mesh implants have successfully treated other conditions, they have caused great harm when used to treat POP in women.
POP can produce embarrassing side effects, including incontinence when it comes to urinary and defecatory functions, and also problems with sexual performance. Unfortunately, pelvic mesh products have made the health situations of some women worse, with some side effects even life threatening.
The problems with pelvic mesh
The Mayo Clinic explains that when POP occurs, the pelvic organs in women drop out of their proper places into the vagina. Pelvic mesh works by reinforcing the vaginal wall. Doctors implant the mesh into the body through surgery. Ideally, the mesh would keep the organs in their proper positions.
However, the Mayo Clinic points out that using pelvic mesh to treat POP carries the risk of complications. Implanted mesh can protrude through the vaginal skin. It can also result in pelvic pain. Pelvic mesh can create pain during sexual intercourse. Some women have suffered from persistent vaginal discharge or bleeding. Mesh can also break off and migrate to other parts of the body, causing further pain and complications.
A recent ban on mesh products
As explained by WebMD, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the sale of pelvic mesh products in April 2019. The FDA claimed that the manufacturers of pelvic mesh devices could not demonstrate the safety or the benefit of their products going forward. At the time of the ban, the FDA advised women who were considering pelvic mesh to treat POP to discuss other options with their health care provider.
The injuries and complications produced by pelvic mesh products used to treat POP has resulted in lawsuits on behalf of women injured by the use of these medical devices. Because of the harm posed by these products, the federal government has taken action to restrict them from the marketplace. Hopefully, this will help many women to avoid the pain and suffering that others have experienced because of using pelvic mesh.
