A WOMAN who had a vaginal mesh implant, which injured her partner during sex, has welcomed guidance by the NHS standards body banning the procedure for women with vaginal prolapse.

Theresa Bartram, 51, from Peacehaven, had the plastic mesh – called a transvaginal tape (TVT) – fitted to lift her prolapsed bladder and stop her leaking, after suffering stress incontinence following the birth of her child.

But the mother-of-one said the mesh left her in unbearable pain and ruined her sex life when it sliced her partner’s penis.

The former health worker has now welcomed guidance by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) banning use of the mesh for vaginal prolapse.

She said: “It sliced a flap of skin off my partner’s private parts; it was like a cheese grater on him.

“And for me the shooting pain inside happened at least a hundred times a day when the TVT was inside me.

“It was like somebody sticking a breadknife up you.

“In October after a debate in Parliament the Government refused to ban the mesh implants.

“I am angry and scared for all the women who have had these implants at Lewes Victoria Hospital, where I had mine fitted in 2007.

“It takes five years to show complications.

“We are heading for absolute mayhem and it will cost the Government a ton to treat them.”

Theresa had her TVT removed in 2015 after years of pain and suffering.

It was finally removed when she started leaking green pus and emitting a foul smell.

She added: “It had shrunk and cut through my vaginal wall and it was surrounded by abscesses.”

She says she now has been left with post-tramatuic stress disorder (PTSD), reactive arthritis and a chronic pain condition.

At least one woman has died following complications from a mesh implant. 42-year-old Chrissy Brajcic, of Ontario, Canada, was left bedridden and in constant pain after the procedure.

A recent BBC Panorama investigation discovered that one device was only trialled on 31 woman and some sheep.

Nice restricted the use of the mesh for research only.

The ban does not apply to mesh used for urinary incontinence.

Sir Andrew Dillon, NICE chief executive said: “Our updated advice on surgical procedures using mesh is based on the latest evidence available, which has been considered in the light of the serious concerns expressed by individual patients and patient groups.

“We emphasise the importance of patient consent and data collection

“We are confident that our advice will give patients and health professionals the right information to make treatment decisions.”

In response to the new guidelines, a Department of Health spokesperson said: “We recognise that some women are suffering from very serious and debilitating complications as a result of this treatment.

“Therefore, we support the updated guidelines from Nice.

“We also want to offer reassurance to the thousands of women who have been helped by these implants and we make sure that any concerns raised are acted on swiftly and effectively by the NHS.”