Class action against maker of vaginal mesh implants begins in Federal Court.

More than 700 women suffering strong pain from vaginal mesh implants have launched a class action against global healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson in the Federal Court.

The implants are thought to have been used to treat pelvic floor damage on about 8000 Australian women who have suffered life-altering complications after surgery, Rebecca Jancauskas from Shine Lawyers said on Tuesday.

READ MORE: The mother-of-four whose life was destroyed by a vaginal mesh implant.

She said the mesh was designed to repair pelvic floors but side effects have been devastating.

“The complications that Australian women are suffering include the mesh or tape eroding through, and into, surrounding tissue and organs, as well as incontinence, infection and chronic pain,” she said.

“Many now live in excruciating pain, suffering terrible side effects that impact all aspects of their lives,” she said.

Some of the implants can still be bought, Ms Jancauskas said.

“This class action is about righting the wrong against these women, who will suffer pain and complications for the rest of their lives,” she said.

The Australian class action comes after more than 100,000 women started legal action in the US and similar moves were taken in the UK and Canada.

Shine is due to open its case in the Federal Court in Sydney on Tuesday, with Johnson & Johnson’s lawyers to present their arguments next Monday.

Hearings are expected to run for about six months.