Transvaginal mesh, a surgical mesh often used to treat conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse is now being linked to a number of harmful side effects. Women who have been implanted with surgical mesh say they have experienced complications such as mesh erosion, mesh contraction, infection, inflammation, blood loss, and pelvic pain to name a few.

The implant, which is manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, is generally used to repair weakened or damaged tissue. There are various types of pelvic mesh products on the market such as Gynemesh®, Prolene Mesh, Prolift®, Prolift-M™, and TVT™.

Thousands of women have filed complaints against Johnson & Johnson claiming that the company marketed surgical mesh as being a safe, effective, and reliable medical device implanted through safe, effective, and minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. It is alleged that Johnson & Johnson made exaggerated and misleading expectations about the safety and utility of the product though it has been shown to have high failure, injury, and complication rates.

Since surgical mesh has been shown to fail at properly performing as intended, severe and permanent injuries requiring frequent and often unbearable re-operations are necessary.

It is believed that Johnson & Johnson underrepresented and withheld information about the tendency of the products to fail and cause injuries and complications. Furthermore, the adverse effects of surgical mesh show that Johnson & Johnson failed to properly test and research to evaluate the risks and benefits of surgical mesh prior to marketing it to patients and health care providers.

Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when the internal structures that support the uterus and bowel become so weak or stretched that the organs drop from their normal position and bulge or prolapse into the vagina. While not a life threatening condition, women with pelvic organ prolapse often experience pelvic discomfort, disruption of their sexual, urinary, and defecatory functions, and an overall reduction in their quality of life.

The Food and Drug Administration recommends that health care providers realize that pelvic organ prolapse can be treated successfully without mesh, thus escaping possible injuries and complications.