Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit: Signs You Qualify and How To Take Action
Written by Terry Turner, Legally Reviewed by Whitney Ray Di Bona, Esquire
Women who filed vaginal mesh lawsuits say they experienced pain, bleeding, organ perforation, mesh erosion and other complications. More than $8 billion has been paid out in settlements and verdicts so far. Cases remain active, so you can still file a claim in 2026.
What Is a Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit?
Vaginal mesh lawsuits seek compensation for defective mesh linked to serious complications like pain, organ perforation and mesh erosion. Some women who received mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) suffered these complications, requiring additional surgeries and treatment.
Lawsuits claim manufacturers knew about the risks but failed to warn patients and doctors. In 2019, the FDA recognized mesh erosion as the most common complication of vaginal mesh and ordered manufacturers to stop selling transvaginal mesh for POP.
More than 100,000 women have filed lawsuits. According to estimates, there have been billions in settlements and jury verdicts. Lawyers are still accepting cases in 2026.
Signs Your Vaginal Mesh May Be Causing Problems
Your vaginal mesh may be causing problems if you’re experiencing abdominal pain, recurrent UTIs and pain during sex for you and your partner. These could be signs that the implant is failing.
- Chronic pelvic pain that doesn't go away
- Difficulty urinating or leaking urine
- Feeling the mesh or a hard lump through the vaginal wall
- Pain during sex (for you or your partner)
- Pressure or heaviness in the pelvic area
- Recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Unexplained bleeding or discharge
Some symptoms might be mistaken for other issues, so it’s important to talk with your doctor about your experiences to determine their cause. They may indicate that the device is eroding through tissue or shifting from its original position.
When To See a Doctor
You should see a doctor if you have severe pelvic pain, bleeding that won’t stop, a fever or are unable to urinate. Tell your doctor you have a vaginal mesh implant. This information may help them diagnose any issues related to the mesh.
It’s important that you don’t self-diagnose or stop taking any medications before you see a medical professional. They can provide a diagnosis and a treatment plan.
Do You Qualify for a Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit?
Women who had a vaginal mesh implant for SUI or POP and developed serious complications may qualify to file a lawsuit. You may be eligible even if you received your implant years ago, since lawyers are accepting claims in 2026. In some cases, if you already received a settlement from a previous vaginal mesh case, you may still qualify to file a new lawsuit.
- You had a vaginal mesh implant for issues like stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse.
- Received a mesh erosion or fistula diagnosis.
- Can provide medical records that confirm your implant and complications.
- Had to have surgery to remove the mesh.
- Have a mesh device that's not made by American Medical Systems or Neomedic.
- Aren't already represented by an attorney.
- Are within the statutes of limitations (time limit) to file your claim.
Make sure to gather medical records that cover your diagnosis and surgery. When you contact an attorney, these documents will help them determine if you qualify.
Is It Too Late to File?
Many women are filing new lawsuits for implants they received years or even decades ago.
Whether or not you can file depends on the time limit in your state. In some cases, your state may have a discovery rule. The discovery rule says that the filing deadline starts when you knew or reasonably should have known your complications were caused by the mesh.
This means that you may still be within your window to file if your symptoms recently worsened or you just connected your problems to the vaginal mesh. You should contact an attorney to learn the deadline for your specific case.
How To Find Out What Brand of Mesh You Have
If you’re not sure what brand of mesh was implanted, don’t worry. You can contact the hospital or surgery center where you had the procedure and request your operative report. The brand and type of mesh you received should be listed in the report.
An attorney can also help you obtain these records if you have trouble getting them.
What's Happening With Vaginal Mesh Cases in 2026?
Most transvaginal mesh lawsuits in multidistrict litigations have been settled or resolved. However, women are still filing transvaginal mesh cases in state courts across the country. Hundreds of cases against Ethicon and Bard are active in New Jersey as part of a multicounty litigation (MCL).
Recent Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit Updates
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June 2026
The judge in the New Jersey Ethicon Gynecare MCL extended the discovery deadline until July 2026. Replies to pre-trial motions are due by October 2026.
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April 2026
New Jersey has two pelvic mesh multicounty litigations (MCLs) still active, one for Ethicon Gynecare mesh and another for Bard products. In April 2026, there were hundreds of cases on the Ethicon docket in various stages of litigation.
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December 2025
Boston Scientific reached a confidential settlement agreement with Regina Oesterle before the case went to trial.
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June 2024
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a $2.5 million verdict against Coloplast Corp. in a lawsuit alleging defective pelvic mesh.
The original seven multidistrict litigations (MDLs) are closed. Judge Joseph Goodwin has sent any cases that haven’t been settled or resolved back to state courts. If you file a case in 2026, your case will likely be in a local court.
What To Do if You Think You Qualify
If you think you qualify for a lawsuit, see your doctor to verify that your symptoms are from vaginal mesh. They can create a treatment plan for you, especially if your symptoms are serious or require surgery. Then, you can gather your records and talk to a lawyer about a potential case.
1. Tell Your Doctor
If you have a vaginal mesh implant and experience symptoms like abdominal pain, recurrent UTIs and pain during sex, don’t ignore these side effects. Tell your doctor about the issues and that you have an implant. Ask if the symptoms could be related to the mesh.
2. Gather Your Records
Request your surgical records from your doctor, medical center or hospital where you had your original mesh surgery. These records will identify the device and manufacturer. You should also document any complications and keep track of symptoms and treatments, especially surgeries.
3. Get a Free Case Review
If you want to learn about your legal options, attorneys who handle pelvic mesh cases offer free, confidential consultations with no obligation. They can review your records and tell you whether your situation may qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vaginal Mesh Lawsuits
Please seek the advice of a qualified professional before making decisions about your health or finances.
Terry Turner has been writing articles and producing news broadcasts for more than 30 years. An Emmy-winning journalist, he has reported on consumer policy issues before Congress, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and other federal agencies.
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- Superior Court of New Jersey. (2026, June 24). Order to Extend CMO 105 Deadlines. Retrieved from https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/mcl/orders-decisions/pelvic-mesh-gynecare/case-management/tjohnc.pdf?cb=a9e2c25e
- Newton, S. (2024, October 21). Vaginal Mesh Degrades Within 60 Days — Study. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rdrx4ep5do
- Floyd, S. (2024, September 16). Legacy Deflects $10m Suit Despite Critical Evidence Delay. Retrieved from https://ourtownlive.com/ourtown/?p=16156
- Farr, N.T.h., et al. (2024, September 5). Evidence of Time Dependent Degradation of Polypropylene Surgical Mesh Explanted From the Abdomen and Vagina of Sheep. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39317096/
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. (2024, June 20). Redding v. Coloplast Corp.; Appeal From the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida D.C. Docket No. 6:19-cv-01857-CEM-DAB. Retrieved from https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/202213218.pdf
- New Jersey Courts. (2023, July 27). Pelvic Mesh – Gynecare – Orders and Decisions. Retrieved from https://www.njcourts.gov/multicounty-litigation/pelvic-mesh-gynecare/orders-decisions?language=en
- The Lane Report. (2023, February 13). Attorney General Announces Nearly $10 Million Settlement With Ethicon. Retrieved from https://www.lanereport.com/162834/2023/02/attorney-general-announces-nearly-10-million-settlement-with-ethicon/
- Stempel, J. (2021, March 23). Boston Scientific in $189 Million Settlement With U.S. States Over Surgical Mesh Devices. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/boston-scientific-in-189-million-settlement-with-us-states-over-surgical-mesh-idUSKBN2BF29C/
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