Doctor Ray Hodgson said the main reasons why women would undergo a mesh procedure would be due to prolapse.

Vaginal prolapse is a common condition where the bladder, uterus or bowel protrude into the vagina.

Dr Hodgson said since 2011 a lighter form of mesh has been used in surgery to provide support to organs within the body. 

The mesh was changed in 2011 by manufacturers after significant numbers of women reported having complications post surgery. 

While data has been collected studies have not been conducted on the lighter form of mesh.

“The problem we have right now is we can’t really quote any studies about the genuine risks involved,” Dr Hodgson said.

He said prolapse will happen to about 50 per cent of women at some point in their lifetime. 

However only 10 to 20 per cent of those women will require surgery. 

Dr Hodgson said traditionally the surgery has involved stitching up the area to hold the organs back in place.

The gynaecology society recognised the traditional method of surgery was not ideal because of the high recurrence rate. About 20 per cent of people required another operation. 

“And so people looked at other ways to try and reduce that recurrence rate,” Dr Hodgson said. 

“What evolved over the last 20 years was the use of mesh.”

Dr Hodgson has used mesh during surgery and there have been women who have come to him with complications. 

“The complication rate for mesh procedures is about 12 per cent,” he said. 

Dr Hodgson said the statistic was based on an accumulation of 37 studies involving 4000 women and looking at their complications after mesh surgery prior to 2011. 

Women have reported symptoms including bleeding, painful intercourse, irritation and discharge. 

About five per cent of women report complications after undergoing traditional surgery involving stitching. 

However those who had mesh surgery also had a lower recurrence rate than women who had traditional surgery. 

Tracey Lewis wants to help other women who may have suffered similar problems to her after she underwent mesh surgery in 2015. The Port Macquarie resident has described her life as hell. 

Ms Lewis’ son was born by a forcep birth and as a result she developed intussusception. 

“The forceps ruined my pelvic floor and the bowel had no support and telescoped,” she said. 

Dr Hodgson said intussusception is an abnormality of the bowel where it folds in on itself and it causes partial obstruction. 

He said the condition usually results from reasons not related to childbirth or connected to forceps. 

Ms Lewis said the condition only results for two per cent of forcep deliveries. She underwent a mesh operation on April 29, 2015 at Nepean Hospital.

The aim of the operation was to help solve Ms Lewis’ issues she experienced with her bowel since the forcep birth of her son. 

Ms Lewis said she is now in constant pain, must monitor her diet closely and is on heavy doses of vitamin supplements.

Ms Lewis can not sit down for long periods of time and as a result has had trouble maintaining employment.

She said she also misses walking along the beach which she can no longer do as the mesh cuts into her. 

If she had her time again Ms Lewis would choose not to undergo the mesh procedure and instead just live by managing the intussusception. 

Dr Hodgson said there are gynaecologists who will no longer use mesh for procedures. 

However a small number of  gynaecologists will recommend mesh procedures in select circumstances, with full disclosure and consent regarding the risks involved. 

Mesh procedures are not likely to be used as the first procedure. 

“We look at all other options first including non surgical options,” he said

“If after doing all of that I judge this woman to having a very high chance of recurrence surgery I would explain that to her, explain the option of mesh, the risks involved and our uncertainty of the exact risks involved (post 2011).” 

The Senate Community Affairs References Committee is currently conducting an inquiry and report into the number of women in Australia who have had transvaginal mesh implants and related matters.

If you would like to make a submission for the inquiry click here 

For women in need of support and information regarding pelvic mesh implants click here for the Australian Pelvic Support Group