Women across California are experiencing serious health complications after their Paragard IUD broke during removal, leaving behind fragments that required additional surgeries to extract. These traumatic experiences have caused not only physical pain but also emotional distress, financial hardship, and in some cases, permanent reproductive health damage.
Walter Clark Legal Group is representing California women who have suffered from these preventable injuries. The manufacturers of Paragard—Teva Pharmaceuticals and CooperSurgical—failed to adequately warn patients and healthcare providers about the substantial risk of device breakage during removal procedures.
If you or someone you love has experienced complications from a Paragard IUD breaking during removal or spontaneously fracturing while implanted, you may be entitled to significant compensation. The California Paragard lawsuit attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group have the expertise and resources to help you pursue justice.
Take our quick online eligibility quiz to see if you qualify for a Paragard lawsuit.
What Is Paragard and Why Is It Dangerous?
Paragard is a non-hormonal intrauterine device that has been marketed as a long-lasting birth control option since its FDA approval in 1984. The T-shaped copper device works by continuously releasing copper ions into the uterine environment, creating conditions that prevent sperm from reaching and fertilizing an egg. Unlike hormonal contraceptives, Paragard doesn’t affect hormone levels, making it appealing to women seeking a non-hormonal option with long-term effectiveness of up to 10 years.
The device consists of a flexible plastic frame with copper wire wrapped around the vertical stem and two horizontal arms that help anchor it within the uterus. When a woman decides to have the device removed, a healthcare provider should be able to grasp the strings attached to the base and extract the intact IUD in a simple office procedure.
However, thousands of California women have experienced a serious complication: the arms of the Paragard IUD can become brittle over time and break off during removal attempts. When breakage occurs, the sharp plastic fragments can become embedded in the uterine tissue, requiring more invasive procedures to remove, including:
- Hysteroscopy (camera-guided removal)
- Dilation and curettage (D&C)
- Laparoscopic surgery (requiring abdominal incisions)
- In severe cases, hysterectomy (complete removal of the uterus)
Research published in medical journals including The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology and JAMA has documented numerous cases where Paragard breakage led to serious complications, including:
- Uterine perforation
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Infection and scarring
- Chronic pain
- Potential fertility issues
The FDA’s adverse event database contains thousands of reports related to Paragard breakage, yet the warning label mentions this risk only briefly. This failure to properly warn has left California women unprepared for potentially life-altering complications that could have been avoided with full disclosure of the risks.
Legal Basis for Filing a Paragard Claim
California women injured by defective Paragard IUDs have strong legal grounds for seeking compensation. Walter Clark Legal Group is pursuing multiple legal theories to hold the manufacturers accountable:
The manufacturers provided inadequate warnings about the significant risk of device breakage during removal, preventing women from making fully informed healthcare decisions.
Evidence suggests the Paragard IUD was designed with materials that become dangerously brittle over time, creating an unreasonable risk of breakage.
Under California law, manufacturers can be held strictly liable for injuries caused by defective products regardless of the level of care taken in design or production.
The marketing of Paragard may have violated California’s strong consumer protection laws by misrepresenting the safety of the product.
Who Qualifies to File a Paragard Lawsuit?
You may be eligible to file a Paragard lawsuit if you meet these specific criteria:
First, you must have had a Paragard IUD inserted for birth control purposes. Your medical records should document both the insertion and subsequent complications. Women who received their Paragard after 2010 generally have stronger claims in the current litigation.
Second, you must have experienced one of these qualifying complications:
- The Paragard device broke during the removal procedure, with one or both arms breaking off
- You required an additional surgical procedure to remove broken Paragard fragments
- Your Paragard fractured while still implanted, necessitating surgical intervention
Important qualifying factors include:
- Removal occurred in 2017 or later (earlier removals generally don’t qualify)
- The device was in place for less than the recommended 10-year maximum
- You did not receive another Paragard IUD after experiencing complications
The Paragard attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group understand that these complications extend beyond physical injuries. They can cause emotional trauma, financial hardship, and significant disruption to your life. Our free online case evaluation will help determine if your experience qualifies you for compensation under California law and guide you through the next steps with compassion and legal expertise.
Steps to Take After Paragard Complications
If you’ve experienced complications from a broken Paragard IUD, taking these important steps can protect both your health and legal rights. Walter Clark Legal Group recommends California residents follow this guidance:
Work with specialized healthcare providers to ensure all fragments are removed and complications are properly addressed.
Request and maintain copies of all medical records, imaging studies, and photographs related to your Paragard complications.
Ask your healthcare provider to save any removed device fragments as physical evidence for your case.
California’s statute of limitations restricts the time available to file your claim, making timely consultation with Walter Clark Legal Group essential.
Get Your Instant Online Case Evaluation
Don’t wait to seek justice if you’ve been harmed by a broken Paragard IUD. California law limits the time you have to file your claim. Walter Clark Legal Group offers a free, instant online case evaluation to quickly determine if you qualify for compensation. Take action now to protect your rights and join other California women demanding accountability from Paragard’s manufacturers.