Although both of these permanent birth control procedures are highly effective and have been used for many years, a newer form of permanent birth control for women has emerged. The procedure is called Essure, and unlike a vasectomy or a tubal ligation, Essure does not require any cutting into the body or use of radiofrequency energy to burn the fallopian tubes. The procedure offers the following:
• No surgery, burning or anesthesia
• No hormones
• No recovery time
• No scar
• No hospital stay—it’s an out-patient procedure
• Performed in less than 10 minutes
• Confidence in it’s effectiveness—the doctor can confirm when the procedure has worked
• Essure is 99.8% effective, with no pregnancies in 4 years of clinical trials. That makes it the most effective form of sterilization available!
• Trusted by hundreds of thousands of women and doctors over the past five years
 How does the procedure work?
An Essure-trained doctor inserts soft, flexible inserts through the body’s natural pathways (vagina, cervix, and uterus) and into your fallopian tubes. The very tip of the device remains outside the fallopian tube, which provides you and your doctor with immediate visual confirmation of placement. During the next 3 months, your body will work with the inserts to create scar tissue that will act as a natural barrier to sperm attempting to travel through the fallopian tubes to reach an egg. During this time, the doctor will give you another form of birth control, such as the Depo shot or another method of your choice, to ensure you won’t become pregnant while the procedure is working. Once this three-month time period is over, the doctor will perform a test to ensure the procedure has worked and that unplanned pregnancy is no longer a concern. To do this, the doctor will use a dye and a special type of x-ray to ensure your fallopian tubes are completely blocked. There are no hormones involved with the Essure procedure, so your menstrual cycle should continue on as it normally has throughout your life.
The Essure procedure is very typically covered by insurance. Depending on your plan, the procedure may be as cost-effective as a simple co-pay! Essure is also a perfectly safe option, with no risks or discomfort associated with the traditional surgical procedures (vasectomy and tubal ligation). Additionally, the silicone-free inserts are made from materials that have been used successfully for many years in cardiac stents and other medical devices that are placed in the body.
A Patient’s Experience
From www.essure.com….Angie’s Story:
I am 34 years old and have been married for 8 years. We have 2 boys who are 5 and 2 years old.
I like spending time with my family and friends, especially my wonderful boys, and I enjoy golfing, boating, and bowling. When I get a quiet moment, I love curling up with a good book.
When I was pregnant with both of my children I had gestational diabetes, which became worse with my second child. I delivered him 2 weeks early and he still weighed 9 lbs 1 oz at birth. My doctor and I had a hard time controlling the diabetes and I knew it would probably be harder on my body if we had any more children. My husband and I decided that our family was complete with our two wonderful boys. I didn’t want to keep taking birth control pills, so we decided my husband would have a vasectomy.
I made an appointment with an Ob/Gyn who performed vasectomies and made a plan to stock up on frozen peas and beer for my husband. At the consultation, he was very informative of the Essure procedure. He made it perfectly clear that he was not trying to change our minds, but that Essure was less invasive and had less recovery time than a vasectomy. After thinking it over, my husband and I decided that the Essure procedure was the way to go for us.
A week before the procedure, my doctor gave me a shot of Depo-Provera that he told me would be my birth control during the 3-month waiting time. He told me it would also thin the lining of my uterus so he could see clearly to place the Essure devices. The doctor performed the Essure procedure in his office, and he explained everything as he went along. I had a little discomfort during the procedure, but no pain after the procedure; I was a little nauseated and tired so I went home and slept for a few hours. When I woke up, I picked up my kids and went to the grocery store. It was like nothing happened!
I went back for the HSG test which I thought was a piece of cake! The doctor showed me where my tubes were blocked on the screen; it was pretty cool to see!
I had to pay $147.00 for the test, but that is better than paying $30.00 a month for birth control pills and risking the chance of another pregnancy.
I like the fact that there was no cutting with the Essure procedure. I didn’t have to take time off work and I was up and running around within hours. I would definitely recommend this procedure to women who are considering permanent birth control. With Essure, you can skip stocking up on frozen peas and beer!
For more information on Essure, visit www.essure.com or www.ppsev.org. We perform the procedure at our Newtown location, 515 Newtown Road, Virginia Beach.
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