Finally, women and their partners considering permanent birth control have a new option —
Essure! Unlike
tubal ligation and vasectomy, with Essure there are no incisions or punctures to the body. Essure takes about 20 minutes, does not require general anesthesia, and can be done right in the office. If you are anxious, light sedation is all that is needed.
How is the Essure Inserted : If you are anxious, light sedation is all that is needed. First the inside of the uterus is examined with a hysteroscope attached to a video camera A narrow inserter, called a catheter, is threaded through the hysteroscope and into the uterus. The catheter is then passed into the fallopian tube. Once micro-insert is placed in the fallopian tube, the inserter is removed. The process is then repeated for the other tube. The entire
procedure only takes a few minutes.
women are able to resume their normal activities the next day.
Safety and Effectiveness During the three months after the procedure, your body and the micro-insert work together to form a tissue barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg. The micro-
inserts do not contain or release hormones and are made with the same materials used in other medical products for many years. For example, blood vessel grafts, heart valve replacements.
The Essure procedure has undergone significant clinical testing in the United States, Europe, and Australia. Data from clinical testing show that Essure was 99.8% effective in preventing pregnancy after two years of follow-up. 98% of women who relied on Essure rated their long-term satisfaction with Essure as "good" to "excellent"
Key Risks and Considerations: • The procedure should be considered irreversible
• Like all methods of birth control, the Essure procedure should not be considered 100% effective
• Not all women who undergo the Essure procedure will achieve successful placement of both micro-inserts
• You must use another method of birth control for at lease three months after the procedure
• The Essure procedure is newer than other procedures
• Removal of the Essure micro-inserts would require surgery