Australian victims of faulty pelvic mesh implants have expressed disgust at doctors’ suggestions of anal intercourse as a solution to their ruined sex lives.

A disturbing email exchange between doctors emerged earlier this month as part of a federal court class action in Australia, which was launched by hundreds of women who had the devices implanted to treat common childbirth complications. The devices, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, caused chronic and debilitating pain.

The emails reflected a callous attitude towards women among French gynaecologists involved with the company. In the emails, doctors talk about alternatives to sex for women suffering painful intercourse. “It is no less true that sodomy could be a good alternative!” one doctor wrote. Another discussed the difficulty of raising sexual matters with his patients. The attitudes accord with evidence before the current Senate inquiry into the devices, which has heard women were advised to consider anal intercourse as a solution to the extreme pain caused by intercourse. “Our vaginas have been abused by mesh and now doctors are suggesting our anus be abused. Despicable! Only a misogynist could think this way."

The appalling comments show a complete lack of respect to the women involved, and suggest that a woman is nothing more than a receptacle to satisfy men and that "any hole will do". There is a clear pattern emerging of poor processes and advice which is leading to women having their lives severely impacted. The class action lawsuit continues in the federal court.