More than 700 women have launched a class action against healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson over damage caused by vaginal mesh implants.

The implants - used to treat pelvic floor damage common after childbirth – have allegedly caused life-altering complications for hundreds of women.

“The complications that Australian women are suffering include the mesh or tape eroding through, and into, surrounding tissue and organs, as well as incontinence, infection and chronic pain,” said Rebecca Jancauskas from Shine Lawyers.

“Many now live in excruciating pain, suffering terrible side effects that impact all aspects of their lives.

“Some of the implants can still be bought,” Ms Jancauskas said.

“This class action is about righting the wrong against these women, who will suffer pain and complications for the rest of their lives.”

They will claim that the surgical mesh, which were approved by Australia’s medicine watchdog, were not fit for their purpose, were not of merchantable quality, and were not safe.

They will also allege and that the companies that provided them were negligent for rushing the devices onto the market without clinical testing.

The legal action in Australia’s Federal Court comes after over 100,000 women started legal action in the US, as well as similar moves in the UK and Canada.

Hearings start on Tuesday and are expected to run for about six months.