CLASS action proceedings brought against the manufacturers and distributors of Essure, a permanent female contraceptive device, have commenced in the Supreme Court of Victoria, which includes Bayer entities.
A Bayer statement said, "the health and safety of the patients who rely on our products is our greatest priority.
"We have great sympathy for anyone who has experienced health problems while using any of our products, regardless of cause."
Women have reported side effects experienced as extreme pain to extremely heavy bleeding - that has often left them bedridden.
The company statement said it believes it has "strong defences" and will continue to defend itself vigorously in Court.
"We are confident that the evidence, in this case, will demonstrate the company is not responsible for the alleged injuries."
Bayer stopped selling Essure in 2017 but states it stands behind the safety and efficacy of Essure which it claims is supported by an extensive body of research (including 10 clinical trials and over 70 real-world observational studies), undertaken by Bayer and independent medical researchers, involving more than 270,000 women over the past two decades.
The statement added that "women who currently have Essure in place may continue to confidently rely on the device."
"If a woman with Essure has concerns or questions about the device, she is encouraged to discuss these with her healthcare provider."
Law firm Slater and Gordon took on the class action three years ago.
It will be up to a judge to decide the fate of the 1,000 Australian women in Victoria's Supreme Court.
The civil trial is expected to run for three months.
Bayer has already settled a similar claim in the US in 2020, paying out nearly US$1.6b (A$2.4b).
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