As of 2024, companies have paid millions to settle transvaginal mesh lawsuits in 48 states, and they’ve paid out an estimated $8 billion in transvaginal mesh verdicts and settlements to individuals. While 95% of transvaginal mesh lawsuits have been settled, lawyers continue to take cases.
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As of November 2025, all seven transvaginal mesh multidistrict litigations (MDLs) have closed. More than 67,000 cases were settled or reached verdicts, and another 49 were sent back to their original courts for trial.
State Lawsuits
Although no federal MDL lawsuits remain active, attorneys are currently filing transvaginal lawsuits in state courts.
Settlement Amounts
Transvaginal mesh manufacturers have paid out an estimated $8 billion to settle lawsuits.
Litigation Status
Transvaginal mesh was the subject of seven MDLs, all presided over by U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin in the Southern District of West Virginia. The last two MDLS closed in 2021. More than 103,000 transvaginal mesh cases were collectively filed.
Current Transvaginal Mesh Settlements and Verdicts
As of November 2025, about 95% of transvaginal mesh lawsuits have been resolved through settlements or jury verdicts, but lawyers are still accepting cases for potential settlement or trial.
MDL No.
Manufacturer
Total MDL Cases Closed
Year MDL Closed
2326
Boston Scientific
26,458
2021
2327
Ethicon
170
2021
2325
American Medical Systems
21,361
2020
2187
C.R. Bard
15,861
2020
2387
Coloplast
2,821
2019
2440
Cook Medical
645
2019
2511
Neomedic
137
2017
It’s estimated that manufacturers have paid more than $8 billion in settlements and verdicts to resolve these cases, and the litigation continues. In February 2023, Ethicon paid a $9.9 million settlement to the state of Kentucky to resolve claims that the company failed to disclose the risks of its transvaginal mesh devices.
“Since we have no exact numbers on how many patients received these products, I expect [adverse event reports for transvaginal mesh] to increase as the public becomes more aware of the FDA’s regulatory updates regarding mesh that was used for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repairs.”
Transvaginal mesh settlement ranges are calculated by the severity of the plaintiff’s injuries and the amount of financial and emotional damages they incurred. More serious injuries typically received higher settlement amounts. Some jury verdicts have been overturned or reduced.
Ethicon
Most of Ethicon’s transvaginal mesh settlements for individual plaintiffs have been for undisclosed amounts. It quietly settled groups of cases with individual law firms after losing several bellwether trials. In the first trial in 2013, a New Jersey jury returned an $11 million verdict against Ethicon for injuries caused by its Gynecare Prolift.
In February 2023, Ethicon paid nearly $10 million to settle the state of Kentucky’s claims that the company “violated the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act by misrepresenting or failing to adequately disclose serious and life-altering risks of surgical mesh devices when marketing the product to doctors, as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.”
Ethicon challenged a $302 million judgment from a lawsuit brought by the state of California over the company’s pelvic mesh devices. In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the verdict.
Status:
All cases in MDL 2327 have been resolved, and Ethicon is quietly settling cases in the New Jersey MCL.
Notable Outcomes:
In 2019, a $120 million verdict to Susan McFarland was the largest single Ethicon mesh jury award.
Last Update:
Ethicon has been dismissing cases throughout October 2025 after reaching settlement agreements.
C.R. Bard
C.R. Bard settled or otherwise resolved most of its federal transvaginal mesh MDL cases, but as of November 2025, a group of federal cases still exists in New Jersey multicounty litigation. According to court documents, the court officially transferred these cases from Judge Brian R. Martinotti to Superior Court Judge Rachelle L. Harz in June 2023. Seven of these cases have been stayed through March 2024 as they continue to progress through the settlement process.
After losing a state lawsuit for $3.6 million in 2012 and a federal lawsuit for $2 million in 2013, Bard settled a pair of cases for undisclosed amounts. In October 2014, Bard settled more than 500 lawsuits for $21 million, but the judge presiding over the MDL was disturbed by Bard’s slow pace.
In December 2014, Judge Joseph Goodwin told Bard to settle additional cases or face billions of dollars in jury verdicts. In August 2015, Bard settled another 3,000 cases for $200 million and a number of others for confidential amounts. In 2020, the company agreed to pay $60 million to settle vaginal mesh claims with 48 states.
Status:
Many remaining active cases are now in a New Jersey MCL under master docket number BER-L-17717-14 MCL.
Notable Outcomes:
Bard paid a $200 million settlement for about 3,000 cases in 2015.
Last Update:
The discovery deadline was extended to June 30, 2026.
American Medical Systems
American Medical Systems was the first company to offer a substantial transvaginal mesh settlement when it agreed to pay up to $830 million to settle 20,000 claims in 2014. Before this settlement, the company offered to pay $54.5 million to settle an undisclosed group of cases.
According to Bloomberg, American Medical Systems’ parent company, Endo International, set aside $775 million to settle 22,000 claims in August 2017. In total, the company has spent about $2.6 billion to settle its mesh cases.
As of November 2025, the company hasn’t announced any additional transvaginal mesh settlements. Per its most recent annual report, Endo International had liabilities of around $50.7 million held in Qualified Settlement Funds (QSFs) for pelvic mesh cases in the USA.
Status:
All lawsuits in MDL 2325 have been resolved, and the litigation was closed in 2020.
Notable Outcomes:
American Medical Systems settled the MDL for $830 million. This brought the total the company spent on mesh claims to $2.6 billion.
Last Update:
There are no new mesh settlements from the company in recent months.
Boston Scientific
In March 2023, an Australian federal court approved Boston Scientific’s $105 million offer to settle a class-action lawsuit. In 2021, the company entered into a $189 million settlement agreement with 47 states over its vaginal mesh devices.
Boston Scientific lost multiple jury verdicts before settling 3,000 mesh lawsuits for $119 million in April 2015. In December 2017, the company settled an additional 350 lawsuits for an undisclosed amount.
According to the company’s 2018 annual report, Boston Scientific “entered into master settlement agreements in principle or are in the final stages of entering one with certain plaintiffs’ counsel to resolve an aggregate of approximately 50,000 cases and claims.”
Status:
Boston Scientific resolved more than 26,000 lawsuits in MDL 2326. The multidistrict was closed in 2021. Individual lawsuits are still being filed over the company’s mesh.
Notable Outcomes:
Boston Scientific has paid over $400 million to resolve tens of thousands of vaginal mesh lawsuits, including a $105 million Australian class-action settlement approved in 2023.
Last Update:
In May 2025, a federal court in Miami ordered Boston Scientific to pay $26.7 million to four women over issues with its Pinnacle pelvic floor replacement kit. The court found that the product was poorly designed and that Boston Scientific failed to adequately warn about the risks.
Coloplast
Coloplast faced the second-fewest lawsuits in the West Virginia MDL. The company announced it would settle about 400 mesh lawsuits for $16 million in January 2014. The claimants reportedly received about $40,000.
The company hasn’t reported any more settlements or jury verdicts as of November 2025. According to its 2022/2023 annual report, Coloplast now considers its MDL cases closed.
Status:
Coloplast resolved 2,821 lawsuits in MDL 2387, and the MDL closed in 2019. Individual lawsuits are still being filed.
Notable Outcomes:
Coloplast paid $16 million to settle the lawsuits against the company in its MDL.
Last Update:
In June 2024, the 11th Circuit Appeals Court upheld a $2.5 million jury verdict for a woman injured by a faulty Coloplast transvaginal mesh. It found that the mesh was defective and caused her significant injuries.
What Are the Average Transvaginal Mesh Settlement Amounts?
As of November 2025, average vaginal mesh settlement amounts have ranged from $40,000 to $450,000. Plaintiffs who have taken their cases to trial have received millions in jury verdicts, but some of these verdicts have been overturned or reduced after appeal.
How much each plaintiff could receive in a transvaginal mesh settlement depends on several factors, including the severity of physical injuries, the age of the plaintiff and the extensiveness of treatment. Experienced transvaginal mesh lawyers can help clients maximize their settlement amounts.
Not everyone will receive the same amount of compensation in a transvaginal mesh settlement. MDL settlements often include multiple tiers with payouts based on different factors. These can vary from MDL to MDL and from settlement to settlement. However, they typically follow similar structures. This table can give you an idea of what a settlement structure might look like.
Examples of Factors Affecting Pelvic Mesh Settlement Amounts
TIER
INJURY PROFILE
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
NOTES
Tier 1 (Highest payouts)
Severe and lasting injuries; multiple revision surgeries; complications with implanted material; significant pain or difficulties with intimacy.
Medical reports; imaging or pathology; a specialist who can connect your mesh to your injuries; proof of impact on your work or daily life.
Strong medical evidence often results in larger payouts. Typically, the more surgeries a person has, the greater the potential value of their claim.
Tier 2 (Moderate payouts)
One revision surgery; mesh exposure or erosion; ongoing pain; urinary issues.
Surgery report or imaging; OB/GYN or urology records; proof of ongoing medical treatment.
Payments are moderate. The amount you receive may increase if your symptoms persist or if the treatment doesn't work as expected.
Tier 3 (Lowest payouts)
Pelvic pain and urinary issues that were successfully treated without surgery.
Diagnosis documents; physical exam findings; medical and financial records of treatment or medications.
Lower payouts can occur because of no surgery, but you can still be eligible with consistent medical records.
Expert and Patient Perspectives on Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuits
If you’re considering filing a transvaginal mesh lawsuit, it’s essential to know that while many cases have already reached settlements, lawyers continue to file new claims. Manufacturers have paid over $8 billion to address these claims, particularly as more people report ongoing issues after their mesh implants.
Successful cases typically include evidence of medical complications and mesh malfunction, along with support from knowledgeable attorneys. Settlement amounts generally range from $150,000 to $450,000. Cases that show significant harm or require revision surgeries often receive higher compensation.
At Drugwatch, our mission is to help you understand this complex legal environment. We partner with top attorneys nationwide who specialize in mesh litigation. We can help you explore your options and collect any necessary medical and financial records. Our goal is to empower you with the information and support you need, so you can receive the justice and compensation you rightfully deserve. You can contact Drugwatch today for a complimentary case review.
Holly Ennis
Partner, Ennis & Ennis
Answering the question: What injuries do transvaginal mesh lawsuits claim?
“There have been a variety of injuries caused by transvaginal mesh.
Normally, as women age, they have what is called either a pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence. So a lot of times, doctors will go in and apply the transvaginal mesh to help alleviate those situations.
Unfortunately, the mesh hardens inside the human body and actually has scar tissue creating over the mesh, and it becomes embedded into the tissue. And these types of tissues and organs need to be flexible within a woman’s body. And so the women are suffering from extreme pain as the mesh devices harden inside their body and get embedded into their tissue.
So often, multiple surgeries are necessary to go and try and extricate or cut the mesh out of the embedded organs.”
Donna Miser, Transvaginal Mesh Survivor
Developed pain during sex, bloody discharge and a knife-like pain in her vagina following transvaginal implantation.
“One minute I was happy at work, healthy and physically fit. I mean, for being 58, I [felt] 30. Now, I’m 80, and it drives me nuts.
And every doctor [I] saw said, it’s anxiety, it’s menopause, here, here’s a pill, there’s a pill, have another pill. And the rage would fly into me. And, and I would tell them, stop doing this to me.
This entire situation has my whole life in turmoil. I spent months being labeled by the medical community before the truth was discovered. Now, most of them have changed their attitudes towards me.
ER visits, co-pays, prescriptions, my husband is rapidly draining his time off from work for appointments and procedures — not to mention gas prices. Rent is becoming hard to cover.
If you don’t have [mesh], don’t get it. And if you have it, get it checked.”
What Affects Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuit Payouts
Plaintiffs may receive different settlement amounts. This occurs because injuries can vary in severity, require different types of surgeries and have various health effects. Stronger documentation and more serious, life-changing complications typically lead to higher compensation.
Factors That Affect Your Transvaginal Mesh Settlement Amount
Immediate Factors
Age
Brand of mesh involved
Number of revision surgeries
Quality of life
The court where the lawsuit is tried
Type and severity of injury
Common Tier Placement or Denial Reasons
A non-qualifying injury (one not included in the settlement)
Inability to link your injury to the mesh
Not enough documentation
Having proper evidence linking your mesh to your injury is critical. You should gather as much information as possible before talking with an attorney.
Documentation of Transvaginal Mesh Injuries
Implant Information
Date of implant surgery
Hospital and surgeon name
Mesh product name/brand
Medical Records
Any emergency room visit records related to pelvic pain
Doctor’s notes about pain, erosion, infections or urinary problems
Implant surgery records
OB/GYN or urology specialist records
Revision or Mesh Removal Records
Follow-up treatment notes
Operative report from revision or removal surgery
Pathology report (if mesh was removed)
Test Results
Any lab results related to infections or symptoms
Ultrasound, CT or MRI scans
Medications and Treatment
Medication list for pain or symptom treatment
Pain management records
Physical therapy records
Work and Daily Life Impact
Employer notes about time off
Pay stubs showing missed work
Workplace restrictions or disability forms
Personal Documentation
List of all doctors and clinics visited
Photos of any visible mesh exposure
Symptom journal describing pain and limitations
You don’t have to gather all these items, but the more you can gather, the stronger your case. Your attorney may also be able to help you find documents you can’t get on your own.
How Long Do Transvaginal Mesh Settlements Take?
Transvaginal mesh settlements could take anywhere from six months to several years. At one time, more than 100,000 transvaginal mesh lawsuits were pending in federal multidistrict litigation, so settlements took longer.
Because the bulk of these cases have been resolved, future transvaginal mesh settlements could happen more quickly. Sometimes, companies may offer to settle a case right before it heads to trial.
Post-MDL: Where Cases Happen Now
Most of the big federal transvaginal mesh MDLs are now closed, but the litigation hasn’t disappeared. Today, a few residual cases remain in specific venues.
Ethicon still has one active federal case in its former MDL. Bard’s remaining lawsuits have been transferred to the New Jersey multicounty litigation, where several cases were transferred in 2023. Some are currently paused as they move through the settlement process.
Some cases are still being processed through the federal appeals system. This includes the Eleventh Circuit ruling in favor of four plaintiffs, which upheld a $26.7 million verdict against Boston Scientific in 2025.
But in general, federal activity has mostly wound down, and state or multicounty courts now handle any remaining claims. Attorneys continue to accept new cases for potential settlement or trial.
Who Qualifies for a Transvaginal Mesh Settlement?
Anyone who has endured injuries from a transvaginal mesh implant and received treatment could potentially qualify for a transvaginal mesh settlement. Most attorneys still taking cases are restricting them to clients who have recently had the mesh removed or who required revision surgeries. Only a transvaginal mesh lawyer can tell you if you qualify.
Lawyers will see if you qualify by asking you several questions about your transvaginal mesh experience. These include when you received your implant, when you started experiencing problems and what kind of treatments you received for complications.
There are time limits to filing a lawsuit for a potential transvaginal mesh settlement, so it’s important to seek help from a lawyer right away. If the statute of limitations has passed on your case, you will not be able to file a claim. Even if you think the time limit has passed, talk to a lawyer about your legal options.
On average, people receive less than $60,000 from transvaginal mesh lawsuits, though this can vary. For example, settlements from Boston Scientific averaged about $53,000, while those from Johnson & Johnson were around $59,000. The final amount depends on the severity of injuries and other factors.
The time it takes to settle a pelvic mesh case varies widely. Individual cases may take over a year to resolve, while multidistrict litigations can take several years. Factors like the complexity of your case, your health insurance details, and whether it's a single claim or part of a larger group all influence the timeline.
As of 2025, people can still file lawsuits for injuries caused by transvaginal mesh implants. While the large, federal MDLS have ended, new individual cases are still being filed in state courts, though you must do so within the legal time limit for your state.
Transvaginal mesh isn’t completely banned, but in 2019, the FDA stopped its sale for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repairs in the U.S. This means surgeries using this mesh for POP can't happen anymore. The FDA continues to monitor the mesh’s safety for women who have already received it. However, transvaginal mesh is still allowed for treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
Several major companies have paid large settlements over transvaginal mesh lawsuits, including Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson (via Ethicon), American Medical Systems and C.R. Bard. These settlements have sometimes reached billions of dollars, resulting from concerns about the products’ risks and misleading marketing.
You may still file a transvaginal mesh lawsuit even if your surgery was years ago, depending on state laws and any previous settlements. The time limit usually starts when you first realize you were hurt. Consult a specialized lawyer to explore your options and gather records.
Please seek the advice of a medical professional before making health care decisions.
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“Since we have no exact numbers on how many patients received these products, I expect [adverse event reports for transvaginal mesh] to increase as the public becomes more aware of the FDA’s regulatory updates regarding mesh that was used for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repairs.”
