Surgical mesh used to treat pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence can cause severe complications when placed through incisions in the vagina, according to a warning issued by the Food and Drug Administration. Potential complications include erosion of the vagina’s wall, infection, pain, urinary problems and recurrence of the prolapse or incontinence.
The FDA has also received reports of mesh erosion causing scarring of the vagina, which led to discomfort and pain during sexual intercourse and required additional surgery to remove mesh that had eroded into the vagina.
—Daniel Cook
