Paragard IUD 

A. History of Paragard intrauterine device for birth control

The Paragard IUD is a T-shaped intrauterine device (IUD) that provides long-term birth control through a small amount of copper. It was originally approved by the FDA in 1984 and marketed by GynoPharma before being acquired by Teva Pharmaceuticals and CooperSurgical.

Paragard works by releasing copper ions that are toxic to sperm and prevent fertilization. It is one of the few non-hormonal birth control options available and can remain in place for up to 10 years. By 2017, Paragard accounted for over 30% of the IUD market in the United States.

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B. Overview of Paragard side effects and injury litigation

Despite being marketed as a safe contraceptive option, thousands of patients experienced severe complications and injuries from Paragard IUDs over the years. Reported issues included device breakage upon removal, migration or dislodgement, uterine perforation, pelvic inflammatory disease, and heavy bleeding.

Many affected women filed lawsuits and legal claims against Paragard's manufacturers, alleging design defects, failure to warn about risks, and negligence. A federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) consolidated over 21,000 cases for pre-trial proceedings.

In 2019, the first bellwether trials resulted in substantial verdicts for plaintiffs. By 2022, Teva agreed to a $1.25 billion settlement resolving most of the litigation through establishment of a settlement trust fund. Thousands collected compensation, but the short statute of limitations now bars additional lawsuits.

This outline provides an overview of the Paragard IUD, the severe complications and side effects reported by users, and the extensive injury litigation that ultimately led to a landmark global settlement with the device's maker.