Birth Control Lawsuits

People are filing birth control lawsuits to seek compensation for birth control side effects leading to injuries and death. These lawsuits allege that:

• Birth control products were defective
• Birth control manufacturers knew or should have known that these products were dangerous
• The manufacturers failed to warn the public about birth control risks

If a birth control medication or device has harmed you or a loved one, you may be eligible to file a contraceptive lawsuit. Personal injury lawsuits for birth control have involved the following complications and medical conditions:

• Blood clots, heart attacks and strokes: Birth control pills are one of the most common types of contraceptives. There are several brands and hormonal compositions of birth control pills. Some have been linked to serious side effects like blood clots, pulmonary embolism and stroke. Vaginal birth control rings have also been linked to blood clots, heart attacks and strokes.
• Meningioma: A meningioma is a tumor that grows from the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. These tumors can cause severe complications, including changes in vision and hearing, memory loss, seizures and difficulty speaking. Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) is an injectable contraceptive. A healthcare provider gives patients the shots every 12 weeks. Some patients have experienced severe complications, including meningioma brain tumors from Depo-Provera. These patients are filing birth control shot lawsuits to recover damages.
• Organ perforation: Some devices can be surgically implanted for a permanent solution to prevent pregnancy. Devices like the fallopian tube implant Essure® have been linked to organ perforation and death.
• Severe IUD complications: Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are inserted by a healthcare provider and can last anywhere from 3 to 10 years, depending on the type. Some patients have experienced severe complications, including severe pain, infertility and death, and have filed birth control IUD lawsuits.
• Toxic shock syndrome: Vaginal rings have been associated with toxic shock syndrome (TSS). TSS is a rare complication caused by certain types of bacterial infections. TSS can cause a high fever, high blood pressure, confusion and seizures.

Who are the named defendants in birth control lawsuits?

The defendants named in these lawsuits are makers of birth control methods that have allegedly caused injuries and death. Ongoing and recently concluded lawsuits against birth control manufacturers include the following pharmaceutical companies:

• Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals: Bayer manufactures Yaz® and Yasmin® birth control pills (drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol). Both have been named in birth control pill lawsuits. Bayer also manufactures Mirena® (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system), which is associated with IUD injuries. Bayer’s Essure permanent birth control device is also facing lawsuits. The company pulled the device from U.S. markets in 2018.
• CooperSurgical, Inc.: CooperSurgical makes Paragard IUD, another device that allegedly causes serious injuries.
• Merck & Co.: Merck currently manufactures and markets NuvaRing® (etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring), a vaginal birth control ring initially developed by Organon. Despite claims that it causes blood clots, Merck still stands by this product and sells it.
• Pfizer: Pfizer birth control lawsuits address side effects caused by the Depo-Provera shot. These lawsuits allege that plaintiffs have developed meningioma brain tumors because of the birth control shot.

You may qualify for a birth control lawsuit if you used birth control and developed an injury or illness related to the birth control method. You may also qualify for legal action if your loved one died from a birth control complication.

You may be eligible for a lawsuit if:

• You or someone you love used one of the following types of birth control:
  • Depo-Provera birth control shot
  • Paragard IUD
• You or someone you love suffered a severe or fatal birth control side effect, including:
  • Blood clots
  • Heart attack
  • Meningioma brain tumors
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Organ perforation or embedment
  • Stroke
  • Toxic shock syndrome (TSS)

Lawsuits against birth control manufacturers have typically been mass torts. Mass torts allow individuals who have been harmed in a similar way by the same defendant(s) to be consolidated. Cases being organized as a mass tort can help streamline the legal process for the court and those involved in the suit during pretrial process. Two types of mass torts include:

• Class action lawsuit: A birth control class action lawsuit allows one or more plaintiffs to sue on behalf of a larger group, or “class.” The outcome of the case applies to all members of the class, and they share any recovered compensation.
• Multidistrict litigation (MDL): An MDL temporarily consolidates cases into a single federal court to rule on questions of common fact. However, the cases remain separate, and each plaintiff’s case is settled or ruled on individually.

If you or your loved one suffered a birth control injury, you should gather your medical records, pharmacy records and any other evidence you can that proves that you took a birth control method and developed a related side effect. You should then consult with an attorney to determine your eligibility for a lawsuit. Mass tort litigation is complex. An attorney can discuss your legal options with you.

Our attorneys are currently reviewing claims associated with the Depo-Provera shot and Paragard IUD. We represent people litigating against Depo-Provera and Paragard. We represented people harmed by other IUDs and types of birth control.

Motley Rice attorneys may be able to help you file a claim for birth control harm. However, we can’t give medical advice. If you are experiencing an issue with your birth control, contact your doctor immediately.

Depo-Provera shot

In March 2024, a new study linked the Depo-Provera birth control shot and the likelihood of developing meningioma. Meningioma is a type of brain tumor. 
People who took Depo-Provera are now filing lawsuits against the manufacturer, Pfizer.

Learn more about Depo-Provera lawsuits.

Paragard IUD

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are small implantable birth control devices. They may also be called Intrauterine systems (IUSs). Paragard is a T-shaped, hormone-free IUD made of flexible plastic with a thin layer of copper. The copper serves as the device’s active ingredient by changing the patient’s cervical mucus. This change prevents sperm from fertilizing the egg.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data reveals thousands of women and health professionals have reported severe complications and side effects from Paragard IUDs. The FDA Adverse Event Reporting (FAERS) dashboard includes more than 50,000 total reports involving patients who had a Paragard device, including 17 deaths.

Contact a Paragard lawyer to find out if you are eligible to file a lawsuit for birth control problems.

Learn more about Paragard IUD lawsuits.

We previously represented people harmed by other types of birth control. Besides IUDs, we have represented clients injured by:

• Fallopian tube implants (permanent birth control): Implanted by a medical provider
• Prescription birth control medications: Taken orally by the patient
• Vaginal rings: Placed and changed monthly by the patient

We are no longer accepting new clients with claims regarding these birth control methods:

Essure permanent birth control

Essure was a permanent birth control device implanted into the patient’s fallopian tubes. The device’s maker, Bayer, stopped making the device in 2018 and asked providers to return all unused units of the device in 2019. Essure has allegedly caused serious side effects, including chronic pelvic pain, organ perforation, life-threatening ectopic pregnancy and death.

Motley Rice medical attorney Fidelma Fitzpatrick served as lead counsel of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee for Essure litigation coordinated in California state court. Our law firm achieved a proposed settlement for the plaintiffs in this birth control recall lawsuit.

Read more about Motley Rice’s involvement with the Essure lawsuits.

Mirena IUD

The Mirena IUD is designed to release the hormone levonorgestrel for up to five years to prevent pregnancy.

The device has allegedly been linked to issues of organ perforation, embedment and increased pressure around the brain (idiopathic intracranial hypertension).

Read more about our leadership role in Mirena lawsuits.

NuvaRing vaginal rings

NuvaRing is a small, flexible plastic ring patients place inside their vagina to prevent pregnancy. Many women allege severe complications.

In February 2014, device manufacturer Merck & Co. settled for $100 million. This settlement resolved close to 2,000 claims against Merck for allegedly causing a number of serious side effects, including blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, heart attack and stroke.

Motley Rice member attorney Carmen Scott served on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee of the NuvaRing multidistrict litigation.

Read more about Motley Rice’s involvement with the NuvaRing lawsuits.

Yaz/Yasmin birth control pills

Yaz and Yasmine are birth control pills manufactured by Bayer that contain the hormone drospirenone.

A 2011 study funded by the FDA examined the link between contraceptive pills that contain drospirenone and the risk of developing blood clots in veins (venous thromboembolism). The study found that people who used this birth control were roughly 1.5 times more likely to develop the condition. Venous thromboembolism can cause blood clots to form in the body’s deep veins and travel toward the lungs. It can block more than one artery. Other side effects can include blood clots, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Lawsuits against Bayer allege the company failed to warn patients of these significant risks. They also allege Bayer exaggerated the effectiveness of the drug in off-label treatments. Off-label uses advertised by Bayer included reducing acne and treating PMDD, a more severe version of PMS.

In 2014, Bayer agreed to pay close to $1.69 billion to settle approximately 8,250 suits. Women who suffered venous clot injuries allegedly caused by this birth control had sued Bayer.

Motley Rice medical attorneys have worked for years to hold birth control manufacturers responsible for products that harm people. Our lawyers have also held leadership positions in lawsuits involving birth control devices and prescriptions.

We are dedicated to protecting consumers from harmful medical drugs and devices. If you or someone you love was harmed by a birth control method, we can inform you of your legal options. Complete our online form or call 1.800.768.4026 to speak with our team.

Read more about our women’s health litigation experience.

Do not stop taking prescribed medication without first consulting with your doctor. Discontinuing a prescribed medication without your doctor’s advice can result in injury or death. Depo-Provera, Essure, Paragard IUD, Mirena IUD, NuvaRing, Yaz and Yasmin remain approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.