The Paragard IUD is a copper T-shaped intrauterine contraceptive device. Beginning in the mid-2010s, women began reporting that Paragard IUDs broke or fractured during removal, leaving pieces embedded in the uterus, cervix, or migrating to other pelvic organs. The result: additional surgery to retrieve the broken pieces, hysteroscopy or hysterectomy in some cases, and lifetime fertility complications. Over 2,500 cases have been consolidated in In re Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation (MDL 2974) in the Northern District of Georgia.

The alleged defect

Plaintiffs allege that Paragard’s arms — the “T” portion of the IUD — are prone to breaking during removal, either at the point where the arms meet the vertical stem or along the arms themselves. Broken pieces frequently embed in the uterine wall, migrate through the uterine wall into the pelvic cavity, perforate the uterus, or lodge in other pelvic structures. Retrieving embedded fragments often requires:

• Hysteroscopy — camera-guided retrieval
• Laparoscopy — abdominal surgery to find migrated fragments
• Hysterectomy — removal of uterus in severe cases
• Loss of fertility — from scarring, infection, or hysterectomy

Defendants

The primary defendants are Teva Pharmaceuticals and CooperSurgical, the successive owners/marketers of the Paragard IUD. The manufacturer historically was Duramed / Barr Laboratories before Teva’s acquisition.

Who qualifies

• Had a Paragard IUD implanted
• IUD broke, fractured, or fragments migrated during or after removal
• Required additional medical procedures to retrieve the pieces
• Documented in medical records

Case posture

The MDL is progressing through bellwether case selection and discovery. Expected damages in individual settlements vary widely based on severity — cases involving hysterectomy or documented infertility are typically valued significantly higher than cases requiring only outpatient retrieval. Settlement discussions have not produced a global settlement as of mid-2026.

General information. Not legal advice. Mass tort settlement amounts vary widely by case-specific facts.