I had a Mirena IUD (the 5 year type with hormones) fitted in 2003. When my Gynecologist attempted to remove the device 5 years later he was unable to do so as it had become embedded. He had a few attempts (very unpleasant) and called in his Partner who also had a go and then broke his speculum whilst it was inserted inside me. The IUD remained where it was and my Gynecologist told me it would be fine, although no longer an effective method of birth control.

Recenty I have had some stomach issues and had a CT scan which shows that the IUD has broken through the uterine wall. The device will now need to be removed surgically. A cursory Google search has shown that there are known problems with the Mirena IUD in that it can migrate and cause organ perforation. https://www.drugdangers.com/mirena/organ-perforation/
There are many lawsuits in the States and Canada against Bayer Healthcare (the manufacturer).

I wondered if anyone else here has been affected by the migration of a Mirena IUD. I am not suggesting that my Gynecologist was negligent in fitting the device as the issues were not known at that time, however, could I have expected some sort of follow up from my Gynecologist once these complications became known?

I know that CH is not like the States in terms of litigation, but is there anything one can do in this sort of circumstance i.e. not malpractice but a defective product which has now caused me a serious complication. My main motivation would be general awareness and reporting of the issue.

I'm sorry to hear this, that must be awful. I read about the complications recently when my gynecologist suggested it could be an option to deal with endometriosis. After reading about potential migration, I said no thanks I'll keep taking oral medications.

I assume the gynecologist here would have learned about potential complications, but if you weren't complaining about pain or anything maybe they didn't think to check again? It seems logical to me that if you're going to leave something in a person's body, you periodically check to make sure it's still where it's supposed to be.

I didn’t know about the migration problem, but in the months following the fitting of my Mirena I developed a quite large and painful ovarian cyst. This seems to be a common side effect and the cyst disappeared after removing the Mirena. It was quite costly though, as I had my IUD for a few months only and then had to go back to the pill.

I am glad you made the right decision 3 Wishes. Your problem also sounds most unpleasant Melusine and I am pleased for you that the removal of the IUD rectified the problem.

Mine has been stuck inside me for 17 years and no one has ever suggested that that could be an issue, although obviously I have always had a concern about it. I changed gynecologist after the removal attempt and was never contacted again by the Praxis. My current gynecologist has always said not to worry about it. Obviously that has turned out to be poor medical advice in the end.

I imagine at age 61, I might be one of the oldest patients to have an IUD removed ��

Do you have a surgeon you feel comfortable with? If it's in the abdomen I'd hope the gynae would refer you to a specialist for the op.

Not yet, I am seeing a gynecologist next Monday and will ask for a referral, probably to a specialist in the Hirslanden in ZH. I am privately insured and for once I shall make sure I get someone I trust.

That's weird, that's a common issue, I mean more common than women think. I'm surprised your doctors didn't even take into consideration for a second that this might happen.

But this is a real issue with the doctors here IMO, they have a "cavalier attitude" in regards with lots of things that could have been avoided, had they payed more attention to the patient. It is just inexcusable, they have everything at their disposal if they wish to practice their profession thoroughly.
Anyway, I wish you the best of health, I hope everything will be OK soon. Take care.

Klostersgirl, wishing you all the best with the surgery.

This has, unfortunately, too often been my experience as well.

Mine too.

There is increasing awareness of the often wholesale dismissal of female patients with "female" complaints by (usually but not always) male physicians that is apparently based upon a long held belief that women simply have a lower pain threshold and are more likely to complain. Particularly in childbirth or during gynae procedures - of the "it doesn't hurt that much/it's a minor procedure" variety. My favourite still being the denial of pain meds 18 hours after an emergency c-section. That shitty human got short shrift from her manager, thankfully.

Essentially it boils down to a crashing lack of empathy and patient focused care.

I hope everything is sorted out for you.

This thread has made my eyes water.

This will no doubt cause groans in some quarters but it's true: situations that only affect women are discounted/not looked into enough. There's a dreadful issue at the moment (in the UK only I think) about surgery using mesh to deal with vaginal prolapse etc - causing untold agony and in some cases disability. Hideous.

Indeed. I'm glad we opted for me to have the snip.

I actually can't believe this There is no way I'd of been able to leave a foreign object imbedded in me.... I'd have been like get it the hell out of me

Often the most reasonable and, dare I say it, fair option with far fewer consequences - apart from the intended, obvs.

Nope, you are absolutely spot on. Medicine is still hopelessly patriarchal in many quarters and women absolutely have to advocate for themselves. And sometimes even when the physician is also a woman.

If I was a woman, I would prefer no sex over having something T shaped inside my....
Hope you get it sorted, good luck.

That was our first choice but the gynecologist persuaded us against it ...

The only problem is how? Two gynecologists made their attempts with no anaesthetic or pain killer. It wasn't great. I obviously can't pull it out myself, so here I am ...

Say whut? Why? (Seems crazy).

I’d have been looking for a new gynaecologist tout de suite in that case.

The more I write here, the more foolish I feel, but my Gynecologist thought my husband was a bit young at 38 for a vasectomy. He told us that he himself had a new partner and regretted his. We thought he was giving genuine life advice but now I think it was rather self serving. Obviously I wish we hadn't bothered to listen now.

Funny, I had exactly the opposite issue with my male doctor. The stuff in the hospital reported him that I'm refusing to take the painkillers on the second day after C-section as I felt that I didn't need them anymore and he came to my room insisting that I continued for few more days.

BTW, he offers me Mirena every time I come for a check. I thought that he would stop after I had tubal ligation but last time I told him that I need to have iron infusions regularly, and he said: "You are lucky! You can use Mirena to reduce the monthly blood loss and it will be paid by your insurance!" He says I shouldn't read the negative reviews in Internet because most of the women have no problems with Mirena and only those few who have issues share their experience with others.