A mother has described how getting a vaginal mesh implant left her in chronic pain as she urges other women not to play “Russian roulette” by undergoing the same surgery. 

Janie Jarman, 66, from Weymouth, had the mesh implant fitted in 2007 in a routine operation. 

The Tension-free Vaginal Tape procedure (TVT) is often carried out to treat prolapse or incontinence after childbirth. The mesh is made of polypropylene, a type of plastic used in disposable drinks bottles and polymer bank notes.

Described as a simple operation which takes around 30 minutes, it is intended to provide support when repairing weakened or damaged tissue.

However, many women are now coming forward to explain how it has left them in agony. Some describe how it has eroded into the surrounding tissue, with others saying it cut them ‘like a cheese wire’. 

Mrs Jarman, who is a mum of three, has spoken out about her own horrendous experience since receiving the implant ten years ago which she says has “severely impacted her life” and left her suffering constant pain. 

She said: “Sometimes it’s intense, sometimes it’s a niggle, but it is all the time. It has affected my mobility and I’m not able to walk very far.

“My life is unreliable, I can’t always stick to arrangements because I might not be up to doing them. My lifestyle has completely changed, considering we used to go camping, now bending over is uncomfortable.

“As a result of not being able to stand for long periods or walk for long distances, I was issued with a blue disabled badge. The impact on my life has been extensive. Everyday tasks have become a struggle.”

Mrs Jarman said the operation, which some say is ‘the biggest scandal since thalidomide’, was heralded as the best and easiest solution to her problem. She added that since seeing others come forward with similar complaints, she feels misinformed. 

Thousands of women who are suffering following the surgery have joined the Sling the Mesh campaign, calling for the operation to be suspended across the UK.

The campaign is headed by journalist Kath Sansom, who had the implant operation on the NHS in 2015 and consequently suffered immediate pain.

Data from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), obtained by the Press Association in April, showed more than 1,000 adverse incidents related to the mesh implants have been reported in the past five years. Many women are choosing to take legal action for claims of medical negligence. 

Mrs Jarman said: “In 2010 I was told that I was the only woman they had experienced that had ever suffered complications following this procedure. I now know differently.

“Those of us who have been struggling on in silence are now realising that we are not alone.

“We are hoping to warn other women of the game of Russian roulette that they are playing by having this procedure. Don’t accept what you’re told, research what’s out there and if there’s alternatives, challenge it.”