Sling The Mesh Survey 2021/22
A third of women have suffered mesh slicing into their organs and more than one in four need some kind of mobility aid because of mesh complications, according to the 2021/2022 Sling The Mesh survey.
Almost half say mesh injuries has put a strain on their relationship and a quarter of people suffering mesh injuries have contemplated taking their lives.
Emma Hardy, MP, Chair of the APPG on Surgical Mesh, said: “This survey unravels the cruel reality of mesh complications. One in four people now need a stick to help them walk and six in 10 suffer depression. One in three people have had to give up work and one in five forced to take reduced hours at work to cope with the pain and complications. Tragically, one in four people have considered taking their life.
“The emotional and physical impact is bad enough but the financial impact on the mesh community is also enormous. It is crucial the Government set up a financial redress scheme as recommended in the Cumberlege First Do No Harm report. We continue to fight for this as one of the report’s nine key recommendations.”
Sharon Hodgson, MP, Vice-Chair of the APPG on Surgical Mesh, said: “The survey makes for shocking reading. A third of people have experienced mesh cutting into their internal organs and seven in ten have a reduced ability to enjoy life. The high numbers of people reporting autoimmune disease and fibromyalgia is also deeply worrying. I have watched my mam suffer with pain, experience gaslighting from the medical community and worry about what the future holds. Just like the 85 per cent of respondents to the survey, she too was not warned of any risks about having a mesh implant.”
Key messages
| Need a stick to walk | 27% |
| Need a wheelchair | 6.7% |
| Considered taking own life | 23.7% |
| Depression | 58% |
| Autoimmune disease | 42% |
| Fibromyalgia | 39% |
| Erosion into organs | 29% |
| Colostomy bag | 15% |
| Reduced ability to enjoy life | 68% |
| “My children take care of me” | 14% |
| Unable to care for children | 10% |
| Strain on primary relationship | 43% |
Financial impact
| Forced to give up work | 37% |
| Forced to take reduced hours | 19% |
| Lost home | 3% |
Mesh types
| Incontinence mesh | 65% |
| Prolapse mesh | 16% |
| Hernia mesh | 5% |
| Rectopexy mesh | 4% |
