Transvaginal Mesh Complications: 13 FDA-Listed Risks to Know in 2026

Many women who received pelvic mesh implants never had problems. Others developed pain, bleeding or mesh erosion months or even years after surgery. Understanding transvaginal mesh complications can help you recognize warning signs, talk with your doctor and decide whether to have your situation reviewed. This guide covers the complications the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified, the regulatory history behind them and how the litigation landscape looks as of October 2026.

Direct2Attorney is a legal marketing and referral service, not a law firm, and we do not provide legal or medical advice. A participating law firm decides whether it can take any case.

What Are Transvaginal Mesh Complications?

Transvaginal mesh is a synthetic surgical mesh placed through the vagina to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP), when pelvic organs such as the bladder, uterus or rectum drop from their normal position. Similar mesh products, often called slings, have also been used to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI), which is leaking urine with coughing, sneezing or exercise.

Transvaginal mesh complications are problems linked to these implants. Some appear soon after surgery. Others develop slowly as the mesh interacts with surrounding tissue. Because the mesh is designed to be permanent, removing it can be difficult, and some women need more than one surgery.

The FDA’s List of Transvaginal Mesh Complications

The FDA’s pelvic organ prolapse surgical mesh page lists the following complications, starting with the most commonly reported:

• Mesh erosion through the vagina, also called exposure, extrusion or protrusion
• Pain
• Infection
• Scar tissue
• Bleeding
• Incontinence and other urinary problems
• Neuro-muscular problems
• Fistula (an abnormal opening between organs)
• Organ perforation
• Recurrent prolapse
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Bowel obstruction
• Pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia)

The FDA notes that many of these complications require additional medical treatment, and some require surgery, hospitalization or both.

Mesh erosion and exposure

Erosion is the most commonly reported complication. It means the mesh has worked its way through the vaginal wall or into a nearby organ. Women may notice discharge, bleeding, a feeling of something rough or sharp in the vagina, or a partner may feel the mesh during intercourse. Treatment ranges from medication to surgical removal of part or all of the mesh.

Chronic pelvic pain and painful intercourse

Some women develop ongoing pain in the pelvis, groin, hips or legs. Scar tissue around the mesh and mesh contraction can contribute. Painful intercourse can affect relationships and quality of life, and it is one of the complications the FDA specifically lists.

Urinary and bowel problems

Mesh can sometimes affect nearby organs, causing new urinary leakage, difficulty emptying the bladder, recurrent urinary tract infections or, more rarely, bowel problems. In serious cases, mesh can perforate the bladder or bowel.

Warning Signs to Discuss With Your Doctor

The FDA’s guidance for patients encourages women with mesh to tell their health care provider about symptoms such as:

• Persistent vaginal bleeding or discharge
• Pelvic or groin pain
• Pain with sex
• New urinary symptoms, such as leaking, urgency or frequent infections
• A feeling that the prolapse has returned

Do not ignore symptoms just because your surgery was many years ago. Complications can appear long after the original procedure. If you are not sure whether you have mesh, your operative report will say. You can learn more on the FDA’s urogynecologic surgical mesh implants page.

How the FDA Responded Over Time

The FDA’s position on transvaginal mesh for prolapse changed significantly over about a decade:

• October 2008: the FDA issued a public health notification about complications from transvaginal mesh used for POP and SUI
• July 2011: the FDA updated that notice, stating that serious complications from POP mesh repair were not rare, and an advisory panel met that September
• January 2012: the FDA ordered manufacturers to conduct postmarket safety studies
• January 2016: the FDA reclassified transvaginal POP mesh as a high-risk (Class III) device, requiring premarket approval
• April 16, 2019: the FDA ordered the remaining manufacturers of mesh for transvaginal POP repair to stop selling and distributing those products immediately, finding they had not shown reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness

The 2019 order applied to mesh placed transvaginally to treat pelvic organ prolapse. It did not apply to mesh slings used for stress urinary incontinence or to mesh placed through the abdomen for prolapse.

Transvaginal Mesh Complications and the Litigation

Tens of thousands of women filed lawsuits over pelvic mesh complications. Federal cases were consolidated into seven multidistrict litigations in the Southern District of West Virginia, covering products from C.R. Bard, American Medical Systems, Boston Scientific, Ethicon, Coloplast, Cook Medical and Neomedic. As of October 2026, the court lists all seven MDLs as closed. Most cases were resolved through settlements, and remaining cases were sent back to their home courts.

State attorneys general also pursued cases. In California’s case against Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon, a judgment of about $302 million became final after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review it in February 2023.

Are new cases still possible?

Some litigation continues in state courts, and new individual claims have been filed in recent years over specific products. Whether a new claim is possible depends heavily on when complications were discovered, which product was used and the deadlines in your state. For a broader overview of the current legal picture, see our article on the transvaginal mesh lawsuit status and who may file.

Prolapse Mesh vs. Incontinence Slings: Why the Difference Matters

People often use “transvaginal mesh” to describe several different products, but the distinction matters both medically and legally.

• Prolapse (POP) mesh was a larger piece of mesh placed through the vagina to support pelvic organs. This is the use the FDA stopped in April 2019.
• Incontinence (SUI) slings are narrower mesh strips placed under the urethra to reduce leakage. They were not part of the 2019 order, but complications such as erosion, pain and urinary problems have also been reported with them.
• Abdominal (sacrocolpopexy) mesh is placed through the abdomen to treat prolapse. It is a different procedure from transvaginal placement.

Your operative report usually identifies which procedure you had and which product was used. That information shapes how a law firm evaluates transvaginal mesh complications, because claims are tied to specific products and manufacturers.

How Transvaginal Mesh Complications Are Treated

Treatment depends on the type and severity of the complication. Options a specialist may discuss include:

• Medications, such as vaginal estrogen, for small areas of exposure
• Pelvic floor physical therapy for pain and muscle problems
• Partial removal of exposed or problematic mesh
• Complete removal, which is more complex and usually performed by specialists
• Repair of fistulas, perforations or recurrent prolapse

Many women see several doctors before finding a specialist experienced with mesh complications. Keeping copies of every consultation, test and procedure creates a clear record of what you went through and can make any later legal review easier.

The impact beyond physical symptoms

Transvaginal mesh complications can affect work, intimacy, sleep and emotional health. If you are struggling, consider talking with your doctor about counseling or support resources. Notes about how complications have changed your daily life can also help a law firm understand your situation.

Records That Help Document Transvaginal Mesh Complications

If you are considering a case review, these records can help a participating law firm understand your situation:

• The operative report from your original mesh surgery, which often names the product
• Implant labels or device records with the manufacturer, product name and lot number
• Records of any revision, partial removal or full removal surgeries
• Pathology reports if mesh was removed
• Records from urologists, urogynecologists or pain specialists
• A timeline of when symptoms began and how they have affected daily life

Tips for requesting records

Contact the medical records department of the hospital or surgery center where your procedure was performed. Ask specifically for the operative report and implant log. If your surgery was many years ago, records may be stored off-site, so allow extra time.

Statute of Limitations Basics

Each state sets a deadline for filing product liability claims. In many states, the clock begins when you discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, that your injury might be related to the mesh. Because mesh complications can appear years after surgery, the timing of your diagnosis and what your doctors told you may matter. A participating law firm can review how your state’s rules apply.

What a Free Case Review Involves

When you request a review through Direct2Attorney, we ask a few questions about your surgery, your symptoms and any treatment. We then connect you with a participating law firm that reviews pelvic mesh cases. The firm may contact you and ask for records. Requesting a review is free and confidential, and you are not obligated to move forward. A law firm decides whether to take a case, and no outcome is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long after surgery can transvaginal mesh complications appear?

Some complications appear within weeks, while others, such as erosion or chronic pain, can develop years later. Any new or worsening symptoms are worth discussing with your doctor.

Is transvaginal mesh still used in the United States?

The FDA ordered manufacturers to stop selling mesh for transvaginal repair of pelvic organ prolapse in April 2019. Mesh slings for stress urinary incontinence were not part of that order.

Can mesh be fully removed?

Sometimes, but not always. Removal can be complex and may involve more than one surgery. A specialist can explain the options and risks for your situation.

Are the federal pelvic mesh MDLs still open?

As of October 2026, the Southern District of West Virginia lists all seven pelvic mesh MDLs as closed. Some individual cases continue in other courts.

What if I already settled a mesh case?

Prior settlements usually include releases. If you are unsure what your agreement covers, ask the law firm that handled your case.

Can I request a review if I am still being treated?

Yes. Many women are still receiving care when they first ask about their legal options. Ongoing treatment records can help show the full effect of transvaginal mesh complications. Focus on your health first, and share records with a law firm when you are ready.

Does it matter which company made my mesh?

Yes. Product liability claims are brought against specific manufacturers, and each company’s products, warnings and litigation history are different. Identifying the exact product from your surgical records is usually one of the first steps a law firm takes.

The Bottom Line

Transvaginal mesh complications can range from discomfort to serious injuries that require surgery. The FDA’s list, the 2019 sales order and years of litigation all reflect how significant these problems have been for some women. If you are experiencing symptoms, start with your doctor and your records. You can learn more on our transvaginal mesh lawsuit page.

Think you may qualify? See if you qualify for a free, confidential Transvaginal Mesh case review →

This article is general information, not legal or medical advice. Direct2Attorney is not a law firm. Requesting a review does not create an attorney-client relationship, and no outcome or compensation is guaranteed.