The most common sign of mesh complications is vaginal pain or discharge that persists or worsens after implantation. Mesh erosion — where polypropylene works through vaginal tissue and becomes exposed — causes bleeding, infection, and palpable protrusion that partners may feel during intercourse. Chronic pelvic pain, often described as a constant pressure or burning sensation, affects a significant proportion of mesh recipients and can be permanent.

Mesh contraction — the shrinking of the polypropylene implant over time — pulls surrounding tissue and can shorten the vaginal canal, causing worsening dyspareunia and pelvic floor dysfunction. In severe cases, mesh can perforate the bladder or bowel, causing life-threatening infections and emergency surgery. Neuropathic pain from nerve entrapment in mesh scar tissue can be among the most difficult complications to treat.