Florida families pursuing fertility treatment have been devastated by the discovery that contaminated Cooper Surgical embryo culture media destroyed their embryos and their hopes for parenthood. What should have been a journey toward family building has instead become a nightmare of loss and heartbreak.
In December 2023, Cooper Surgical recalled multiple lots of embryo culture media after finding dangerous levels of endotoxins—bacterial toxins that proved lethal to developing embryos. For affected families across Florida, this recall came too late, after failed IVF cycles had already destroyed their embryos and their dreams of having children.
The impact is far-reaching. Many Florida families invested $20,000 to $30,000 per IVF cycle, often without insurance coverage. Women endured weeks of hormone injections, invasive procedures, and physical discomfort, all rendered futile by a contaminated product that was supposed to support new life.
Understanding the IVF Media Contamination
Embryo culture media serves as the artificial “womb” that sustains and nourishes embryos during their earliest developmental stages. Cooper Surgical’s products are used by fertility clinics across Florida and nationwide, in carefully controlled environments, to provide essential nutrients and maintain optimal conditions for embryo growth outside the body.
The contaminated products (identified as lot numbers 231020-018741, 231020-018742, and 231020-018743) contained elevated levels of endotoxins that proved catastrophic to embryo development. These bacterial toxins create conditions that are fundamentally incompatible with embryo survival, typically resulting in complete developmental arrest and embryo loss.
The FDA classified this situation as a Class I recall—their most serious designation—indicating that exposure to these products may cause “serious adverse health consequences or death” to embryos. In practical terms, fertility clinics reported alarming failure rates approaching 100% when using the affected media.
For patients, the impact was immediate and devastating. Many experienced the unexplained failure of all their embryos, with some clinics reporting that not a single embryo survived when cultured in the affected media. Most affected patients had already completed the most challenging parts of the IVF process, including hormone stimulation, egg retrieval, and fertilization, only to have all potential embryos destroyed by the contaminated culture media.
Scientific research confirms that endotoxin exposure is particularly harmful to early embryo development. Embryologists report that embryos exposed to these toxins typically arrest development within days, resulting in complete cycle failure. For many patients, particularly those of advanced maternal age or with diminished ovarian reserve, this represented not just a failed cycle but potentially their final opportunity to have biological children.
The Devastating Impact Of Defective IVF Media
Patients experienced catastrophic embryo loss, often experiencing 100% failure when their embryos were exposed to the contaminated culture media.
For many women nearing the end of their reproductive window, the contaminated media may have permanently ended their hopes for biological children.
Families experienced profound grief and trauma after learning their embryos were destroyed by products meant to support their development.
Florida families typically invested $20,000-$30,000 per IVF cycle, most paying out-of-pocket with no refund options after failure.
Women endured intensive hormone treatments and invasive procedures, suffering physical side effects for ultimately failed treatment cycles.
These impacts represent just some of the hardships faced by Florida families affected by Cooper Surgical’s defective IVF media. Our Cooper Surgical IVF fluid lawyers at Boohoff Law understand that no compensation can truly make up for the lost opportunity to build your family, but we believe these companies must be held accountable for the immense harm they’ve caused.
Legal Grounds for Cooper Surgical IVF Claims
Florida product liability law holds manufacturers strictly liable for defective products that cause harm, regardless of whether negligence can be proven.
The presence of harmful endotoxins in the culture media constitutes a manufacturing defect, as the product deviated from its intended design.
By providing contaminated culture media, Cooper Surgical breached both expressed and implied warranties that their products were safe for embryo development.
The company appears to have failed in implementing adequate quality control measures that would have detected the dangerous contamination before distribution.
Florida has strong consumer protection laws that support victims of defective medical products. While this specific type of case involving embryo culture media is relatively new to the courts, legal precedent in cases involving reproductive harm provides a foundation for these claims. The Florida courts have awarded substantial damages for both economic losses and emotional distress involving reproductive health.
As more affected families come forward, we expect these cases may be consolidated into multidistrict litigation to address common factual questions while preserving each family’s individual claims. This approach allows for more efficient handling of evidence while ensuring that each family’s unique circumstances are considered.
Our Florida Cooper Surgical IVF fluid attorneys at Boohoff Law are monitoring these legal developments closely and building strong cases for our clients. We understand the complex and sensitive nature of these claims and are committed to pursuing maximum compensation for affected families.
Do You Qualify for a Cooper Surgical Lawsuit?
If you underwent IVF treatment in Florida between late 2022 and early 2024 and experienced an unexpectedly failed cycle, you may be eligible to file a claim against Cooper Surgical. Our Florida Cooper Surgical IVF fluid lawyers can help determine if your case meets the criteria for legal action.
You may qualify for a Cooper Surgical IVF lawsuit if:
- You underwent IVF treatment that failed between late 2022 and early 2024
- Your fertility clinic used culture media from one of these recalled lots:
- LGGG-020: UDI-DI 00815965020044, lot 231020-018741
- LGGG-050: UDI-DI 00815965020051, lot 231020-018742
- LGGG-100: UDI-DI 00815965020068, lot 231020-018743
- You experienced unusual or unexpected embryo development failures
- You received notification from your clinic about the Cooper Surgical recall
- You have documentation of your IVF treatment
Even if you’re uncertain whether contaminated media was used in your treatment, our firm can help investigate. Many Florida fertility clinics are reviewing their records to identify affected patients, but some individuals may remain unaware that their failed cycle was due to contaminated media rather than natural causes.
The impacts of this contamination could have affected various stages of your IVF journey. Whether your embryos failed to develop properly in the laboratory, failed to implant after transfer, or resulted in early pregnancy loss, the defective culture media may have been responsible.
At Boohoff Law, we understand the sensitive nature of these claims and handle each case with compassion and discretion. Our Florida Cooper Surgical IVF attorneys have the resources and experience to thoroughly investigate your case and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Critical Steps After IVF Failure
Contact your fertility clinic to verify if they used any of the recalled Cooper Surgical media lots during your IVF treatment cycle.
Collect all documentation related to your IVF treatment, including medical records, lab reports, billing statements, and communications about the recall.
Connect with counseling services experienced in fertility loss and support groups in Florida to help process the emotional trauma.
Florida has specific deadlines for filing product liability claims, so consulting with a Cooper Surgical IVF lawyer promptly helps protect your rights.
At Boohoff Law, we understand that taking legal action may feel overwhelming when you’re already coping with the emotional aftermath of a failed IVF cycle. Our compassionate Florida Cooper Surgical IVF attorneys will guide you through each step with sensitivity and care, allowing you to focus on healing while we handle the legal complexities.
Check Your Eligibility Now
If your IVF treatment failed due to contaminated Cooper Surgical media, you deserve answers and compensation. Our Florida Cooper Surgical IVF fluid lawyers are ready to evaluate your case and help you understand your options. Our simple eligibility check takes just moments and can be your first step toward accountability.
Don’t wait—time limits apply to these claims, and acting promptly gives you the best chance at recovery.