Reported Reactions

Devices › Mesh, surgical, synthetic, urogynecologic, for stress urinary incontinence, retropubic or transobturator

Device brand name · Mesh surgical

Gynecare Mesh Unknown: medical device reports filed with FDA

5,830 reports name it, 2013–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Ethicon. Product code OTN.

5,830
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 446 a year
3
reports, 12 months to August 2026
11 in the 12 months before
0%
classified as malfunction
1.6% across the product code
0.1%
classified as death, as reported
3 reports · not verified by FDA

5,830 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "Gynecare Mesh Unknown" (mesh surgical); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Ethicon; received from June 2013 to August 2026. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.

3 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 73% from 11 in the 12 months before. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases. The event types recorded are injury (99.9%) and death (0.1%); across all mesh, surgical, synthetic, urogynecologic, for stress urinary incontinence, retropubic or transobturator reports (product code OTN) death is recorded in 1% and malfunction in 1.6%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are material erosion (23.8%), other (for use when an appropriate device code cannot be identified) (18.1%) and migration or expulsion of device (16.9%). The patient problems coded most often are erosion, pain and surgical procedure. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Reports by month, five years

047Sep 2021: 1Oct 2021: 2Nov 2021: 7Dec 2021: 22022Jan 2022: 0Feb 2022: 1Mar 2022: 2Apr 2022: 2May 2022: 0Jun 2022: 6Jul 2022: 2Aug 2022: 1Sep 2022: 2Oct 2022: 2Nov 2022: 0Dec 2022: 02023Jan 2023: 1Feb 2023: 0Mar 2023: 4Apr 2023: 0May 2023: 3Jun 2023: 0Jul 2023: 2Aug 2023: 1Sep 2023: 0Oct 2023: 0Nov 2023: 0Dec 2023: 02024Jan 2024: 0Feb 2024: 1Mar 2024: 0Apr 2024: 1May 2024: 1Jun 2024: 0Jul 2024: 1Aug 2024: 1Sep 2024: 1Oct 2024: 1Nov 2024: 1Dec 2024: 02025Jan 2025: 1Feb 2025: 2Mar 2025: 2Apr 2025: 1May 2025: 2Jun 2025: 0Jul 2025: 0Aug 2025: 0Sep 2025: 0Oct 2025: 0Nov 2025: 0Dec 2025: 02026Jan 2026: 1Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 0Apr 2026: 0May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 0Jul 2026: 1Aug 2026: 1

Reports by the month FDA received them. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases.

By year received

01,0472,0942013: 1,06320132014: 2062015: 2,09420152016: 1,7812017: 39020172018: 1292019: 5020192020: 282021: 4120212022: 182023: 1120232024: 82025: 820252026: 3

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0.1%3
Injury99.9%5,827
Malfunction0%0
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%5,830
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 38,649 reports carrying product code OTN. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Material erosion1,38923.8%44.4%
Other (for use when an appropriate device code cannot be identified)1,05318.1%2.2%
Migration or expulsion of device98516.9%5.2%
Migrationthe device moved from where it was placed440.8%4.6%
Insufficient device problem information150.3%8.4%
Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly20%1.1%
Detachment of device or device componentpart of the device came off10%0.1%
Extrusion10%0.8%
Material integrity problema problem with the device material10%0.2%
Material protrusion/extrusion10%0.1%
Patient-device incompatibilitythe device did not suit the patient10%0.2%

FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report; one report can carry several. Generic codes such as "no apparent adverse event" are left out.

Patient problems coded

Patient problem (FDA code)ReportsShare
Erosion2,37940.8%
Painpain, site not specified1,54026.4%
Surgical procedure1,33923%
Other (for use when an appropriate patient code cannot be identified)1,06018.2%
Not applicable971.7%
Injurya physical injury901.5%
Incontinence881.5%
Scar tissue440.8%
Urinary tract infectionbladder or urinary infection400.7%
Blood loss360.6%
Micturition urgency230.4%
Urinary frequency / polyuria230.4%
Neurological deficit/dysfunction220.4%
Bleeding200.3%
Urinary retentionbeing unable to empty the bladder200.3%

Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.

In context

MeasureGynecare Mesh UnknownProduct code OTNAll MAUDE reports
Reports5,83038,64926,136,888
Share of that pool—15.1%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports1109
Classified as injury99.9%97.4%36.2%
Classified as malfunction0%1.6%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%97.8%94.9%

Shares are of reports, not of devices in use. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Other brands with product code OTN

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Gynecare Tvt Retropubic System5,75200%
Gynecare Tvt Obturator System4,33000%
Tension Free Vaginal Tape9,35500.1%
Gynecare Tvt Oburator System1,57800.1%
Tension Free Vaginal Tape Unknown Product1,161240%
Gynecare Tvt-Aa Abdominal90500%
Advantage Fit System1,496100.1%
Gynecare Tvt Obturator868150%
Uretex Support Pp Kit X199900.1%
Gynecare Tvt Exact Continence System68200%
Tension Free Vaginal Tape - Obturator Unknown Prod67650%
Advantage? System3,537130%
Obtryx System6,03110%
Gynecare TVT67930%
Obtape Transobturator Sling1,30400%

Ordered by report count for navigation only. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA also states that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product."

Questions about Gynecare Mesh Unknown reports

How many FDA reports name Gynecare Mesh Unknown?

5,830 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 3 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

injury (99.9%) and death (0.1%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

material erosion (23.8%), other (for use when an appropriate device code cannot be identified) (18.1%), migration or expulsion of device (16.9%), migration (0.8%) and insufficient device problem information (0.3%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (100%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Gynecare Mesh Unknown was at fault?

No. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA adds that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report."

How do I report a problem with a medical device?

Through FDA MedWatch (Form FDA 3500 for health professionals and consumers), or to the manufacturer. See the guide on how to report.

Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Device Adverse Event (MAUDE) bulk export released 28 Sep 2026, which holds reports FDA received through 31 Aug 2026. Brand, generic and manufacturer names are as written on the reports; product code names come from FDA's device classification. A report counts here when any device it lists carries this brand name after punctuation and capitalisation are normalised. No report narrative, lot number, patient detail or reporter identity is published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.

Drug data (FAERS) through 30 Jun 2026; device data (MAUDE) through 31 Aug 2026. Not medical advice.