Paragard Intrauterine Device Lawsuit - Copper Iud Side Effects & Dangers

Paragard intrauterine devices are marketed as safe. While these IUDs prevent pregnancies with a high degree of reliability, the units can break apart. As a result, pieces of the IUDS have been imbedded in patients’ organs, often causing serious injuries and creating the need for surgery

Paragard intrauterine devices were made by Teva Pharmaceuticals prior to the brand’s 2017 sale to Cooper Companies. Paragard IUDs are very small intrauterine devices, with T-shaped frames made of soft, flexible polyethylene. The lower portion and part of the arms of the “T” are wrapped with copper, which helps prevent pregnancy without exposing the wearer to hormones. Once installed by a physician, the IUD may be left in place for up to ten years.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted its approval to the Paragard IUD in 1984. The faulty IUD model is Paragard T 380A. Despite risks associated with potential breakage, it is still on the market. In 2019, a batch of Paragard T 380A IUDs were recalled for concerns over the units’ sterility. To date, though, these IUDs have never been recalled for the breakage issue.

Paragard copper IUDs are marketed as a superior alternative IUDs that rely on levonorgestrel, which is linked to pseudotumor cerebri (ptc). However, the issue with breakage and a subsequent need for emergency fragment removal means that even hormone-free IUDs carry a certain measure of risk.

• June 1, 2024 - Considering an IUD? Here’s What to Expect During an IUD Insertion
• March 1, 2024 - Paragard (intrauterine copper contraceptive) is a brand-name IUD prescribed to help prevent pregnancy in some adults and adolescents. Paragard is inserted into the uterus by a healthcare professional and typically lasts up to 10 years.
• February 1, 2024 - Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation 1:20-md-02974-LMM - Honorable Leigh Martin May, presiding.
• January 1, 2024 - Paragard IUD Litigation Update: First MDL Bellwether Trial Scheduled for October 2024
• July 1, 2023 - Copper Intrauterine Devices (IUD)
• February 1, 2023 - Paragard vs. Mirena For Birth Control: What Are Their Differences? Side effects, dosage and more.
• January 1, 2023 - Relared Lawsuit: A huge number of Essure birth control lawsuits were filed against Bayer, the company that has manufactured Essure since 2013. In 2018, Essure was taken off the market.
• December 1, 2022 - Paragard updated side effects: Sepsis, serious infection, tear in the uterus.
• August 1, 2022 - An article about IUD: What Are The Different Types of IUDs? What are intrauterine devices? How do they help with birth control?
• July 1, 2022 - Paragard copper IUD can cause women periods to be heavier, especially at first. But Paragard lasts longer than hormonal IUDs.
• June 1, 2022 - What you need to know before getting an IUD? Although intrauterine devices can be very effective, some women find the process painful.
• May 1, 2022 - GoodRX updated the common Paragard side effects that can include: heavier periods, or periods that last longer, backache, vaginitis, breakthrough bleeding or spotting, pain during sex and anemia.
• February 1, 2022 - There is a risk of an infection within the after the Paragard IUD is placed that can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and cause infertility.
• November 2, 2021 - Leigh Martin May (District Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia) MDL-2974 - Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation
• December 2020 - 55 Paragard Lawsuits filed from 31 federal districts were consolidated and grouped together into a Multi District Legislation Case
• May 11, 2020,  - a plaintiff filed a ten-complaint lawsuit in the US District Court for the Eastern District of California. The lawsuit  included claims for strict liability design defect, strict liability manufacturing defect, strict liability failure to warn, and more. The plaintiff claimed that she had been implanted with the IUD for approximately two years prior to asking her physician to remove it. Her doctor removed the IUD according to the manufacturer's instructions, but one arm of the T-shaped device was missing. The doctor used a hysteroscope to remove the fragment. 

• May 26, 2020, -  another plaintiff alleged design defect, negligence, manufacturing defect, and other complaints. The plaintiff had uterine pain after having the IUD implanted for approximately 5 years. When her doctor removed the device, it was missing an arm. The physician was able to locate and remove the missing piece. The plaintiff's claim states that the defendants “knew or should have known that Paragard can and does cause serious harm to individuals who use it, due to the risk of the Paragard’s arm breaking upon removal.” 
• May 28, 2020, -  a third plaintiff alleged gross negligence, violation of consumer protection laws, negligence, and failure to warn after being implanted with the IUD in 2008. In 2018, at the 10 year mark, her physician attempted to remove the device and found that it was missing an arm. The plaintiff claimed that “Paragard is inherently dangerous and defective, unfit and unsafe for its intended use.”

In the Paragard lawsuit Plaintiffs argue that Teva Pharmaceuticals and CooperSurgical Inc. failed to provide adequate warning to consumers of the risk of breakage and the potential for injury.

Paragard is the only non-hormonal intrauterine device available in the United States. All options – whether hormone-infused or not – are easy for healthcare providers to install during an office visit that takes just a few minutes. As most patients find that the side effects are mild, IUDs are considered – and marketed – as an attractive contraceptive option, particularly when protection from STDs isn’t a factor.

Women who have filed lawsuits against Paragard’s manufacturers state that potential breakage was not listed as a side effect when they had their IUDs installed, claiming that Teva made a misrepresentation when labeling the devices as being safe and effective. The victims claim that the company did not provide adequate warnings about the risks and are seeking compensation for injuries they claim are a direct result of using Paragard

Current prescribing literature from CooperSurgical mentions the risk of breakage when a physician removes an embedded IUD, but some women have experienced complications when the arms break off the IUD before it is scheduled for removal.

CooperSurgical’s materials do not mention of how often “device breakage” occurs, however there is a warning that “breakage of an embedded Paragard during non-surgical removal has been reported.”  Instructions for removal advise healthcare providers that “The threads can retract into the uterus or break, or Paragard can break, perforate the uterus, or be expelled.”

An additional cautionary statement for physicians states that “Breakage or embedment of Paragard in the myometrium can make removal difficult. Analgesia, paracervical anesthesia, cervical dilation, alligator forceps or other grasping instrument, or hysteroscopy may assist in removing an embedded Paragard.”

Although Paragard does not cause mood swings or lead to weight gain like hormonal birth control can, it comes with warnings about side effects. These tend to be at their worst within the first few months of the device’s installation.

The following Paragard side effects are mentioned specifically:

• Anemia
• Backache
• Dysmenorrhea
• Dyspareunia
• Complete or partial expulsion
• Prolonged menstrual flow
• Menstrual cycle pattern changes
• Menstrual spotting
• Pain and cramping
• Vaginitis

At the time of insertion, women may experience dizziness, nausea or cramping and pinching. These side effects should last for just a few minutes after the Paragard IUD is inserted. 

Prescribing literature lists some rare Paragard side effects as well, including:

• Ectopic pregnancy 
• Sepsis 
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Embedment
• Perforation of the uterine wall or cervix during insertion 
• Unplanned expulsion of the IUD   

Paragard IUD’s have been linked with myriad complications and side effects, including: 

• Severe menstrual pain, cramps, and spotting
• Heavier and longer periods
• Stomach pain or back pain
• Inflammation (Pelvic inflammatory disease) or inflammation caused by copper residue

If one or both arms of the Paragard IUD break off, the pieces could become embedded in the uterine wall or migrate to other parts of the body, leading to serious injuries and complications. 

• Device migration or movement 
• Uterine and organ damage (i.e., perforations and ruptures)
• Infertility 
• Breakage upon expulsion
• Hysterectomy

What are the grounds for a Paragard IUD lawsuit?

Victims can sue the makers of Paragaurd (Teva and Cooper) for any of the following claims:

Defective design - Both companies can be held liable for any subsequent injuries because the product’s design posed a risk of one or both arms breaking off. 

Manufacturing defect - This covers poor construction or defects in the product prior to leaving the manufacturer’s possession.

Improper Labeling/Failure to warn - Doctors were not given ample warning about the dangers of the Paragard IUD breaking during explanation. In turn, women using the device were not warned about the possibility of breakage either. 

Negligence - Drug manufacturers (Paragard is regulated as a drug, not a medical device) are duty-bound to provide products that are well-designed and free from defects. Both companies flouted that responsibility by providing a device where the design inherently posed a risk to the end-user, leading to serious injury. 

What are the potential complications and injuries associated with Paragard T 380A?

While Paraguard is relatively easy to implant, there are a slew of potential injuries that users should be aware of, including:

• The device embeds in the uterus 
• Arm breakage of the device 
• Migration 
• Uterine and organ damage 
• Breakage during expulsion
• Infection 
• Inflammation caused by copper residue 

Are Paragard lawsuits individual lawsuits or class action lawsuits? 

Paragard lawsuits are individual lawsuits, not class action lawsuits. While they will remain classified as such, they may be consolidated into multidistrict lawsuits (MDL). With hundreds (and thousands expected) of lawsuits pending on the same legal issue, multidistrict lawsuits consolidate these cases to avoid putting a strain on the court systems. Perhaps, more importantly, MDL’s often expedite the process. It’s worth noting here, too, that settlement amounts determined in MDL’s often set the tone for settlements in any remaining cases. 

As of December 2020, individual Paragard lawsuits were consolidated into a multidistrict lawsuit (#2974) in The Northern District of Georgia. If you have been injured, you may be able to seek compensation. At present, hundreds of individual lawsuits have been filed, naming Teva and Cooper Companies as defendants

Has the FDA issued a recall of Paragard T 380A?

Paragard T 380 A has not been recalled. Despite complaints and ongoing lawsuits, it remains in the market. It’s worth noting that one batch of Paragard was recalled in 2019. The recall was due to sterility issues, not breakage issues. 

Have there been any settlements in the Pargard lawsuits?

At this time, there are no settlements in the Paragard lawsuits. The Paragard lawsuits must go to trial before negotiations begin and settlements are determined.  Attorneys from legal firms representing the plaintiffs will seek maximum compensation, as no dollar amount can be placed on damages to a woman’s reproductive health. If and when they are awarded, initial compensation amounts are likely to help litigators negotiate settlement amounts in future cases.

Who are the manufacturers of Paragard IUD?

Teva Pharmaceuticals was the original manufactures of Paragard T 380A. However, Teva sold the Paragard intrauterine device to Cooper Companies in 2017 for approximately $1.1 billion.

Select Justice Focuses on mass tort lawsuits; however, our experts can provide guidance and help those who are considering a Paragard IUD lawsuit fight for the maximum amount of compensation and hold the manufacturers accountable for the painful injuries this product has caused. If you or a loved one has been injured by a Paragard T 380A intrauterine device, take a moment to provide details in the form. Our case review process is free, and can help you determine if your lawsuit is viable.