One in 20 women injured in the vaginal mesh scandal have attempted suicide

One in 20 women caught up in the vaginal mesh scandal have attempted suicide, research suggests.

Campaigners surveyed around 630 women who have the controversial implant, once widely used to treat prolapse or urinary incontinence.

They found five per cent of women with vaginal mesh are in such severe pain they have tried to take their own life or self-harm regularly.

A third of mothers with mesh complications – such as recurrent urinary infections, pain or fatigue – rely on their children to care for them after many have been left wheelchair-bound and unable to work.

Four in five women with a mesh have developed depression and anxiety as a result of the procedure, while nearly half battle suicidal thoughts, the survey also revealed.

 One in 20 women caught up in the vaginal mesh (pictured) scandal have attempted suicide

The survey was carried out by the 6,800-strong campaign group Sling The Mesh, which lobbies for parliament to completely ban the controversial implant.

Campaigner Jackie Harvey told Cambs Times: ‘These results show that mesh implant complications are severe, life changing, and impact women and their families.

‘Nobody should go for an operation that is supposed to help yet come out so badly harmed they no longer want to live.’

After asking 633 women with vaginal-mesh complications how it has affected their lives, results further revealed around 95 per cent of those with complications no longer trust the surgeon behind their procedure to give them the best advice.

And a staggering nine in ten have lost all faith in the medical profession as a whole. 

Nine in ten also claim their doctor did not explain the implant involved having a piece of plastic permanently placed in their bodies.   

And 98 per cent allege they were not told about alternative solutions to their prolapse or incontinence, such as physiotherapy. 

As a result of the implant, four in five of the respondents claim they experience severe pain every day and one in five suffer urinary infections so frequently they are becoming antibiotic resistant.   

The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) is due to release new guidelines on how to treat women suffering incontinence or prolapse in two weeks. 

‘If the new NICE guidelines are not tough enough then the mesh scandal will carry on like revolving door medicine, where women keep going in and out of hospital or GP surgeries looking for a fix,’ Ms Harvey said.

Mesh is made of brittle plastic that can curl, twist and cut through tissue (stock)

 Mesh is made of brittle plastic that can curl, twist and cut through tissue (stock)

Vaginal mesh – made of brittle plastic that can curl, twist and cut through tissue – has been branded the ‘biggest medical scandal since thalidomide’.

Campaigners have fought for years for officials to put an end to vaginal mesh, with the most common implant – transvaginal tape (TVT) – being widely used across Europe and the US since the early 2000s. 

A recent BMJ investigation reported there was scant evidence in favour of mesh despite its rapid uptake, as well as widespread conflicts of interests among surgeons and doctors.    

And an NHS audit delving into the effects of mesh – released in April last year – shone a light onto the true scale of disaster.

The likelihood of a woman suffering complications from mesh were shown to be around the 45 per cent mark. 

Across the world, mesh manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson face claims for compensation from women who allege they were not told about the complications.

In a victory for campaigners, NICE ruled against the use of vaginal mesh as a treatment for pelvic organ prolapse in 2017.

Following this, the Government suspended the use of some mesh procedures in England until certain conditions are met.

And NICE announced surgical interventions using mesh or tape should only be considered when non-surgical options have failed or are impossible. 

Owen Smith, MP and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Surgical Mesh Implants, called for the UK Government to follow Australia’s example and issue a national apology to women damaged by pelvic mesh implants. 

All forms of pelvic mesh are already banned in New Zealand after a landmark move in December and a similar move against mesh for prolapse has been made in Australia.

Mr Smith also called for radical reform of the regulatory system for medical devices in the UK in the light of recent scandals involving surgical mesh, defective pacemakers, faulty artificial hips and PIP breast implants. 

Anyone seeking help can call Samaritans 24/7 free on 116 123 or visit Samaritans.org.

WHAT ARE VAGINAL MESH IMPLANTS? THE CONTROVERSIAL DEVICES THAT HAVE BEEN COMPARED TO THALIDOMIDE

WHAT ARE VAGINAL MESH IMPLANTS? 

Vaginal mesh implants are devices used by surgeons to treat pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence in women.

Usually made from synthetic polypropylene, a type of plastic, the implants are intended to repair damaged or weakened tissue in the vagina wall.

Other fabrics include polyester, human tissue and absorbable synthetic materials.

Some women report severe and constant abdominal and vaginal pain after the surgery. In some, the pain is so severe they are unable to have sex.

Infections, bleeding and even organ erosion has also been reported.

Vaginal mesh implants are devices used by surgeons to treat pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence in women

Vaginal mesh implants are devices used by surgeons to treat pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence in women

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MESH? 

Mini-sling: This implant is embedded with a metallic inserter. It sits close to the mid-section of a woman’s urethra. The use of an inserter is thought to lower the risk of cutting during the procedure.

TVT sling: Such a sling is held in place by the patient’s body. It is inserted with a plastic tape by cutting the vagina and making two incisions in the abdomen. The mesh sits beneath the urethra.

TVTO sling: Inserted through the groin and sits under the urethra. This sling was intended to prevent bladder perforation.

TOT sling: Involves forming a ‘hammock’ of fibrous tissue in the urethra. Surgeons often claim this form of implant gives them the most control during implantation.

Kath Samson, a journalist, is the founder of Sling The Mesh

Kath Samson, a journalist, is the founder of Sling The Mesh

Ventral mesh rectopexy: Releases the rectum from the back of the vagina or bladder. A mesh is then fitted to the back of the rectum to prevent prolapse.

HOW MANY WOMEN SUFFER?  

According to the NHS and MHRA, the risk of vaginal mesh pain after an implant is between one and three per cent.

But a study by Case Western Reserve University found that up to 42 per cent of patients experience complications.

Of which, 77 per cent report severe pain and 30 per cent claim to have a lost or reduced sex life.

Urinary infections have been reported in around 22 per cent of cases, while bladder perforation occurs in up to 31 per cent of incidences.

Critics of the implants say trials confirming their supposed safety have been small or conducted in animals, who are unable to describe pain or a loss of sex life. 

Kath Samson, founder of the Sling The Mesh campaign, said surgeons often refuse to accept vaginal mesh implants are causing pain.

She warned that they are not obligated to report such complications anyway, and as a result, less than 40 per cent of surgeons do.   

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk