Lesson 3: More Advances in Birth Control
Essure: Non-Surgical Sterilization

Essure is a micro-insert that looks like a spring, and is inserted into a woman's tubes through her uterus. No surgery is needed for this procedure, and no part of the tube is removed, cut, tied or burned. The insertion of Essure take about 35 to 45 minutes in the doctor's office or at the hospital where the doctor practices, and most women return to their normal activities in a day or less.

Essure works with a woman's body by creating a natural block of tissue in her fallopian tubes, making pregnancy very unlikely. Essure is inserted through the uterus to the fallopian tubes in a doctor's office. Usually the woman is sedated for the procedure which involves using a laparoscopic probe to place the springs into each tube. The probe is inserted through the cervix, into the uterus and then into the tube where the device is released and expands against the walls of the fallopian tube.

For the first three months, a woman must use a backup method of birth control. After three months, a hysterosalpingogram (dye is introduced to the uterus and will enter the fallopian tubes showing if they are blocked or not) will be done to show that the micro-insert has encouraged enough tissue growth to fully block the tubes. At this time, the back up birth control can be discontinued. Essure should be considered permanent, and should not be used if you are not sure if you want more children in the future, are being pressured into the procedure, or are basing your choice on your current marital or financial situation, which could change in the future.

Essure has been shown to be 99.8% effective at preventing pregnancy. In the clinical trials, none of the women got pregnant.

Side effects from the procedure may include cramps, spotting or light bleeding, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fainting, and light-headedness. Risks associated with the procedure include; incorrect placement of inserts, inability to rely on device after 3-month waiting period, increased risk of ectopic pregnancy if device fails, insertion of device may be painful, and infection. Side effects after insertion may include; heavier or longer periods, bleeding or spotting between periods, pelvic/back/abdominal pain, and infection could lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.

The cons to choosing Essure over another form of sterilization include; side effects from and after procedure, risks of incorrect placement, does not protect against STDs, is less likely to be reversible than other methods, requires follow up exams and use of other methods for first three months. The pros to this method include; non-surgical method so has fewer risks, non-hormonal, permanent, highly effective, quick recovery time, and costs less than tubal ligation.