A surgical mesh used to treat pelvic organ prolapse, the Bard Avaulta vaginal mesh has been linked to a number of side effects, including infection, painful intercourse and pelvic pain.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first alerted consumers to the transvaginal mesh side effects in 2008 when it released a warning about problems with surgical mesh products, and has since found that women undergoing pelvic organ prolapse repair surgery with a transvaginal mesh have a higher risk of complications than those undergoing other surgical options.