Pelvic Mesh

Pelvic mesh is a permanent implant used to repair prolapse or treat stress urinary incontinence. Mesh can wear through the vaginal wall, cause pain or scarring, and lead to more surgery. The three main mesh procedures are different, and only one of them, transvaginal prolapse repair, was pulled from the U.S. market in 2019. A pelvic mesh lawyer starts by identifying the procedure and the product.

Three different pelvic mesh procedures

Surgical mesh has been used for two pelvic floor conditions: pelvic organ prolapse, where the bladder, uterus or bowel drops against the vaginal wall, and stress urinary incontinence, where urine leaks when you cough, sneeze or exercise. The FDA describes three main procedures and warns that each has its own risks and benefits that shouldn't be confused1:

• Mesh placed through the vagina to repair prolapse (transvaginal mesh)
• Mesh placed through the abdomen to repair prolapse, often called sacrocolpopexy
• A mesh sling, sometimes called tape, placed to treat stress urinary incontinence

Knowing which one you had is the first step in any review. The answer is in the operative report, which names the procedure, the approach and usually the product.

Transvaginal prolapse mesh has its own page because its history is different: transvaginal mesh complications.

Pelvic mesh complications

The most commonly reported mesh-specific complication in prolapse surgery is erosion, when mesh wears through the vaginal tissue. It is also called exposure, extrusion or protrusion. For abdominal prolapse repair, the FDA reports a median vaginal erosion rate of 4% within about two years of surgery2.

Reports to the FDA about abdominal prolapse mesh also describe pain, infection, scar tissue, bleeding, incontinence, nerve and muscle problems, fistula, organ perforation, recurrent prolapse, abnormal discharge, bowel obstruction and pain with sex2. Those reports have limits: they can be incomplete and don't show how often a problem happens2.

For slings, the FDA notes that vaginal mesh erosion can occur and may need more surgery, and that partners may feel irritation or pain during sex when mesh is exposed3.

Where the problem is versus how the mesh went in

A complication's location doesn't tell you the route. Mesh placed through the abdomen can still be exposed in the vagina. A sling placed through a vaginal incision is a different product with a different purpose than transvaginal prolapse mesh. Lawyers and doctors sort this out from the operative report, not from where the symptoms are.

How mesh exposure is treated

Treatment depends on how much mesh is exposed and the symptoms. The FDA describes options ranging from vaginal cream, to an office procedure that trims the exposed piece, to a return to the operating room to remove part or all of the mesh2. Mesh is meant to be permanent, and taking it out can be difficult. Removal doesn't always fix every symptom.

Pelvic mesh at a glance

Conditions treated

Pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.

Most common mesh-specific problem

Erosion or exposure through the vaginal wall2.

2019 FDA action

Covered mesh for transvaginal prolapse repair only1.

Slings

Still sold; separate risks and separate rules.

Who may have a pelvic mesh claim

A review usually starts with these questions:

• What was the original diagnosis: prolapse, incontinence or both?
• Which procedure was done, and through which route?
• Which mesh product was implanted, and when?
• What did an exam or imaging find: exposure, erosion into an organ, infection, scarring?
• What treatment followed, including trimming, excision or repeat surgery?
• How has the problem affected daily life, work, intimacy or bladder and bowel function?

Pain or recurrence after pelvic surgery doesn't by itself show that mesh failed. Prolapse can come back after surgery with or without mesh. The records have to show what happened to the mesh.

Who may be responsible

An investigation may look at the companies that designed, made or sold the specific mesh product, based on the product's labeling, its regulatory history and the complication. Questions about how a surgeon chose or placed the mesh are reviewed separately, under medical malpractice rules.

Filing deadlines for pelvic mesh lawsuits

Deadlines depend on the state and on when you learned about the injury and its possible link to the mesh. Examples:

• Arizona: generally two years for personal injury and wrongful death4.
• California: two years for injury to or death of a person caused by another's wrongful act or neglect5.
• New York: three years for personal injury6, with a separate rule that runs from discovery for injuries caused by the latent effects of exposure to a substance in the body7.
• Texas: two years for personal injury and wrongful death8, and most product liability claims must be brought within 15 years of the product's sale9.

If you were part of an earlier mesh case or signed a release, that can affect a new claim. Ask a pelvic mesh attorney to look at your history early.

Tell Us Your Story →

Records that help a pelvic mesh review

Records worth gathering

The first surgery

• Operative report naming the procedure and route
• Implant log or sticker with the product name
• The diagnosis that led to surgery

Later care

• Exam notes describing exposure or erosion
• Imaging, such as ultrasound or MRI
• Excision or revision operative reports and pathology

Everyday effects

• Pelvic floor therapy records
• Urology or gynecology follow-up
• A short timeline of symptoms

What happens after you contact CBW Law

How a review works

1. Tell us what happened

   Share what you remember about the mesh, the problem and the treatment that followed. You do not need every record first.

2. We identify the device

   We work to confirm the maker, model and lot or serial number, and whether any recall or safety notice covers it.

3. We gather records

   With your permission, we request operative reports, imaging, device data and other records from your providers.

4. We explain what we see

   We tell you what the records show, what questions remain and what options may be open, including deadlines.

Complications after pelvic surgery are not always caused by mesh. A review starts with the operative report and what later exams found.

Plain English

Medical, Health & Insurance

Terms you may see in a pelvic mesh case.

Conditions

Pelvic organ prolapse

When the bladder, uterus or bowel drops and presses against the vaginal wall.

Stress urinary incontinence

Urine leaking during coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercise3.

Procedures

Sacrocolpopexy

Abdominal surgery that uses mesh to suspend the top of the vagina to the sacrum2.

Mid-urethral sling

A strip of mesh placed under the urethra to support it.

Excision

Surgery to cut out exposed or damaged mesh.

Complications

Erosion or exposure

Mesh wearing through tissue so it can be seen or felt.

Dyspareunia

Pain during sex.

Fistula

An abnormal opening between organs, such as the bladder and vagina.

Questions

Pelvic mesh lawsuit questions

Short answers to the questions people ask first.

Is a bladder sling the same as pelvic mesh?

A mesh sling for stress urinary incontinence is a type of pelvic mesh, but it is a different product and procedure from prolapse mesh, with its own risks.

Was all pelvic mesh banned in 2019?

No. The FDA's April 2019 order covered mesh for transvaginal repair of pelvic organ prolapse. Abdominal prolapse mesh and slings were not part of that order.

What is mesh erosion?

Erosion, also called exposure or extrusion, is when mesh wears through the vaginal wall or into a nearby organ.

How do I find out which mesh I have?

The operative report and implant log usually name the product and the approach. A pelvic mesh lawyer can help request them.

Do I need a pelvic mesh lawyer if I had the mesh removed?

A removal or revision surgery is an important part of the record. A pelvic mesh attorney can review what the surgeon found and whether a claim may be possible.

Can I still file a pelvic mesh lawsuit if I had surgery years ago?

Possibly. Deadlines often depend on when you learned about the injury and its possible cause, and they differ by state.

What if I was part of an earlier mesh settlement?

A prior settlement or release can limit a new claim. Bring any settlement papers to your review.

Does removing the mesh fix the problem?

Not always. Mesh is designed to be permanent, removal can be difficult, and some symptoms may continue.

Should I have my mesh removed?

That is a medical decision for you and your doctor. Many people with mesh have no complications.

What does it cost to contact CBW Law?

Telling us your story costs nothing, and contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Tell Us Your Story

If pelvic mesh caused pain, erosion or more surgery, a pelvic mesh attorney can review what happened.

Tell us what happened. CBW Law will review your information and explain what we see. Submitting information does not establish an attorney-client relationship or guarantee representation.

Tell Us Your Story →Call (800) 476-2416

This page is general information about pelvic mesh. It is not legal or medical advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. A complication or removal surgery does not, by itself, establish that mesh was defective or that anyone is legally responsible. Talk to your doctor before any decision about your mesh. Laws and deadlines differ by state, and no outcome can be promised.