Paragard® is a popular intrauterine device (IUD) used as a form of long-term birth control in women. The device is implanted into the uterus for up to 10 years to prevent pregnancies. The Paragard® IUD is a flexible “T” shaped device made of plastic. Wrapped around the device is copper, which is slowly released into the uterus preventing pregnancy by interfering with sperm motility, implantation and fertilization of eggs.

The Paragard® IUD has been a popular choice among women because it is hormone free and doesn’t pose the same risks of blood clots as the other hormone-containing IUD’s. Originally manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals Ltd., and recently sold to Cooper Companies, Inc. for $1.1 Billion, Paragard® was first approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1984 and made it to the market four years later. It has since been recommended for use in a greater pool of women.

Many women have filed complaints of severe complications the Paragard® IUD has caused when attempts have been made to remove the device. For years, there have been false and misleading representations about the device’s safety, including indications that the birth control implant is supposed to be completely reversible and allow women to have children in the future. However, increasing evidence suggests that known side effects of the Paragard® IUD were not adequately disclosed to consumers or the medical community.