Mirena IUD Users Could Have Higher Risk of Breast Cancer
A recent study found that patients using the Mirena IUD have a 20% increased risk of developing breast cancer.
The study was published in Obstetrics & Gynecology. The Finnish team tracked 94,000 women between the ages of 30 and 49, who used the Mirena IUD birth control device between 1994 and 2007. All of the women involving in the study used the Mirena device to treat heavy menstrual bleeding, and not specifically for birth control.
Of the 94,000 patients in the study, 2,781 cases of breast cancer were detected. Although the Mirena IUD was associated with a higher risk of breast cancer than the average for the Finnish population, the birth control device was associated with a lower risk of other types of cancer, including endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lung cancer.
“Using the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system for treatment of menorrhagia during reproductive years was associated with a lower incidence of endometrial, ovarian, pancreatic, and lung cancers than expected,” said the researchers.
The researchers added that other studies that included potential genetic factors would be helpful in clarifying why the breast cancer risk was so high in those using the Mirena IUD.
Many women have joined a multidistrict litigation (MDL) against Bayer Pharmaceuticals, alleging that the company’s intrauterine birth control device, the Mirena IUD, not only does not prevent pregnancy as advertised, but can perforate surrounding organs and cause severe internal damage and pain. The Mirena IUD has also been associated recently with an increased risk of a new, dangerous injury to the brain, called Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (or IIH) or pseudotumor cerebri (PTC).
Symptoms of IIH include headaches, blurred or double vision, temporary blindness, and phantom “whooshing” noises, reportedly as spinal fluid builds up. IIH or PTC can eventually lead to permanent blindness. Plaintiffs allege that the Mirena IUD’s synthetic hormone Levonorgestrel can lead to the creation of the pseudotumor – so called because it mimics some side effects of an actual tumor, including pressure against regions of the brain or optic nerve.
The 10 plaintiffs suffering from the pseudotumors related to Mirena IUD use have filed with the Judicial Panel of Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) to consolidate their cases against Bayer Pharmaceuticals.
The Strom Law Firm Defends Consumers Against Dangerous Devices Like the Mirena IUD
Since the Mirena IUD was originally approved for use, numerous exceptions to its use have been discovered. Bayer claimed the Mirena IUD should be used in women who have at least one child and only one sexual partner, but reportedly, some doctors in the Boston area say that the device is only safe for women who have never had children. The Mirena device is also not recommended for use in women with uncontrolled pelvic inflammation, breast, cervical, or uterine cancers (past or present), liver disease, or a weak immune system.
If you or a loved one have used the Mirena IUD for contraception and have experienced pain, infection, bleeding, ovarian cysts, intrauterine pregnancy, kidney stones, pelvic inflammatory disease, or organ perforation due to the device, you are not alone. The Strom Law Firm offers free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your Mirena personal injury case. Contact us today for a free consultation. 803.252.4800.
