US Female Urology expert says surgical experience reduces risk of adverse outcomes from mesh devices

Leading United States Female Urology specialist, Professor Eric Rovneri, has expressed confidence in the use of a controversial female pelvic mesh product for stress urinary incontinence saying it is “an effective procedure” that has been “a boon for women’s health”.

Prof Rovner is in Melbourne to speak at the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand’s Annual Scientific Meeting this week.

The Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand says specialists have noted the adverse publicity over complications from female pelvic mesh devices has impacted patient’s confidence in the most common and effective treatments for urinary stress incontinence, the mid urethral sling.

Female pelvic mesh products are at the centre of a class action by Australian 700 women against manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and a Federal Parliamentary Senate Enquiry.

In December the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) banned transvaginal mesh products for prolapse and single incision mini slings for stress urinary incontinence. New Zealand regulators have imposed similar restricctions.

The mid urethral sling (MUS) has not been removed, however anti-mesh campaigners are calling for it to be banned as well.

In January Johnson & Johnson withdrew its mid urethral slings from the Australian market but other manufacturers’ versions of the product remain available.

In the United States, pelvic mesh has been the subject of that country’s largest, single class action with $3billion to date appropriated to settle and litigate cases.

Professor Rovner says female pelvic mesh products have not been banned in the US, but the FDA has issued warnings about prolapse mesh and single incision slings (mini-slings) putting them under tighter scrutiny and mandating a review to be funded by the manufacturers.

Professor Rovner says it is still unclear whether the complications relate specifically to the mesh itself or the  denominator effect of the increasing number of cases using the product.