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| MPs to debate use of controversial vaginal mesh implants | MPs to debate use of controversial vaginal mesh implants |
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| Parliament will discuss risks associated with implants after women report debilitating complications, including perforated organs and chronic pain | |
| Hannah Devlin Science correspondent | |
| Tue 10 Oct 2017 19.36 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 15.39 GMT | |
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| The use of controversial vaginal mesh implants will be debated by MPs next week, amid concerns over the traumatic complications suffered by some patients. | The use of controversial vaginal mesh implants will be debated by MPs next week, amid concerns over the traumatic complications suffered by some patients. |
| Parliament will discuss the risks associated with the implants, which are widely used to treat incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, common conditions in women who have had children. During the past decade, more than 100,000 women in the UK have been fitted with the implants. | Parliament will discuss the risks associated with the implants, which are widely used to treat incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, common conditions in women who have had children. During the past decade, more than 100,000 women in the UK have been fitted with the implants. |
| For many women, the operation is quick and successful but some have suffered debilitating complications including perforated organs and chronic pain. In July, the government released its three-year investigation into mesh implants, which concluded that the use of mesh to treat women with urinary incontinence and prolapse “is a safe option for women”. | For many women, the operation is quick and successful but some have suffered debilitating complications including perforated organs and chronic pain. In July, the government released its three-year investigation into mesh implants, which concluded that the use of mesh to treat women with urinary incontinence and prolapse “is a safe option for women”. |
| However, since then further evidence has emerged about apparently high rates of complications, and the issue is gaining political momentum. Figures obtained by the Guardian suggested that around one in 15 women fitted with the most common type of mesh support later require surgery to have it extracted and a recent US trial involving Johnson & Johnson, a leading manufacturer of the implants, heard of new products being used in patients without clinical trials. | However, since then further evidence has emerged about apparently high rates of complications, and the issue is gaining political momentum. Figures obtained by the Guardian suggested that around one in 15 women fitted with the most common type of mesh support later require surgery to have it extracted and a recent US trial involving Johnson & Johnson, a leading manufacturer of the implants, heard of new products being used in patients without clinical trials. |
| The question of safety is complicated because a large variety of different vaginal mesh implants, made by different manufacturers, have been used without any systematic registry existing to collect data on long-term outcomes or safety. The success of the procedure also depends on surgical expertise, making it hard to know whether complications are wholly caused by problems with the device. | The question of safety is complicated because a large variety of different vaginal mesh implants, made by different manufacturers, have been used without any systematic registry existing to collect data on long-term outcomes or safety. The success of the procedure also depends on surgical expertise, making it hard to know whether complications are wholly caused by problems with the device. |
| Emma Hardy, Labour MP for Hull West and Hessle, secured the debate on 18 October after hearing the experiences of several women in her constituency who she said had, until recently, been “suffering in silence”. “It’s a topic that people have felt ashamed and embarrassed about,” she told the Guardian. Hardy is calling for a public inquiry into the use of mesh, aimed at establishing the risks associated with the procedure and whether mesh removal helps resolve complications. | Emma Hardy, Labour MP for Hull West and Hessle, secured the debate on 18 October after hearing the experiences of several women in her constituency who she said had, until recently, been “suffering in silence”. “It’s a topic that people have felt ashamed and embarrassed about,” she told the Guardian. Hardy is calling for a public inquiry into the use of mesh, aimed at establishing the risks associated with the procedure and whether mesh removal helps resolve complications. |
| Kath Sansom, founder of the campaign group Sling the Mesh, welcomed the debate. “Women have been campaigning since 2007 but sadly it has taken until 2017 for us to be taken seriously,” she said. “So many have joined [the support group] describing their feeling of isolation having been told they were the only ones suffering and are shocked to see there are so many others.” | Kath Sansom, founder of the campaign group Sling the Mesh, welcomed the debate. “Women have been campaigning since 2007 but sadly it has taken until 2017 for us to be taken seriously,” she said. “So many have joined [the support group] describing their feeling of isolation having been told they were the only ones suffering and are shocked to see there are so many others.” |
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| Vaginal mesh implants | |
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