Imagine searching for a gynecologist to remove an IUD, only to find it had been quietly recalled under a cloud of complaints, and you hadn’t been told.

This is the reality for many women around the world, including here in New Zealand, who were unlucky enough to receive the Essure permanent IUD.

It is highly likely that many women in New Zealand are still unaware of the havoc being caused to women around the world, women who have had to fight to be heard, fight for removal of the device, and fight for their health and their lives.

All because they wanted to take control over their fertility, trusted their specialists and were, frankly, sold a lemon.

In November 2023, the Auckland Women’s Health Council wrote about some of these women and I implore you to read their stories in the link below

Click to access AWHC-November-2023-Newsletter-website.pdf

Essure Permanent Contraceptive Device

In April 2024, the Auckland Women’s Health Council has again written about the need for there to be more safeguarding for recipients of permanent biomedical implants. The link to the newsletter is below the quoted extract.

“Medical Technology Association chief executive
Cushla Smyth complained that the TPA would have
caused long delays for patients in accessing medical
breakthroughs. Clearly, greater profit as fast as
possible is the major concern for manufacturers,
rather than taking adequate time, clinical trials
and pre-market assessment that would go further
towards ensuring that health consumers are safer
from harm.
Most New Zealanders have very little understand-
ing of how poorly implantable medical devices
are regulated here (and overseas) and incorrectly
assume that they are safe from harm from such
devices, because ‘surely our government wouldn’t
allow defective, harmful and inadequately tested
devices to be used here.’
To gain an understanding why our reliance on the
US regulatory system leads to devastating harm
we recommend starting with the documentary
The Bleeding Edge that was reviewed in the AWHC
November Newsletter. Additionally, we include on
the following page, a review of the regulations for
medical devices in the US, a process upon which
Aotearoa New Zealand heavily relies in allowing
the use of medical devices in this country.”

Click to access awhc-newsletter-march-april-2024.pdf