In 2019, multinational pharmaceutical firm Bayer took its permanent birth control device Essure off the market in Brazil amid a slew of complaints from women who suffered severe complications after use.
Consisting of a pair of metal coils implanted into each fallopian tube, Essure functions as a method of permanent sterilization by inducing fibrosis and creating blockages, stopping eggs from being released, and keeping sperm from reaching the ovules. Bayer stresses that its “innovative” product is safe, yet a high number of users in Brazil, the U.S., and Europe have developed intense pain and severe complications after receiving...