Bayer Essure Suits Skyrocketed as FDA Pushed Stronger Warnings

Amanda Rusmisell wanted Bayer AG’s Essure contraceptive device to wipe out any chance of a surprise pregnancy. What she didn’t bargain for was being left in blinding pain and bleeding so badly she couldn’t leave her house.

Rusmisell is among more than 16,000 women in the U.S. suing the German drugmaker over the Essure device, marketed as a safe alternative to surgical techniques such as tying the fallopian tubes to prevent pregnancies.

The number of Essure suits has skyrocketed over the last two years after U.S. regulators forced Bayer officials to beef up warnings about the device’s risks—including bleeding, pain ...