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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 my office.

How is the Essure Inserted?

	The Essure does not require any incisions. It can be done under local anesthesia. If you are anxious, light sedation is all that is needed. First the inside of the uterus is examined with a slender telescope called a hysteroscope. The hysteroscope is 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. Most women are able to resume their normal activities the next day.
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, these materials have been used in blood vessel grafts, heart valve replacements, and abdominal repair. An x-ray called a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is done after 3 months to be sure the tubes are blocked.

Safety and Effectiveness

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"

The Essure Procedure: Key Risks and Considerations

As with all medical procedures, Essure may not be suitable for all women and there are risks associated with Essure. The following are the key risks associated with Essure:

• 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

For a detailed comparison of Essure to Vasectomy and traditional tubal ligation, click here. (Will open in new window)

Advanced Womens Healthcare.

Rizwan Malik, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., Clinical Assistant Professor

Department of Obstetrics Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine & Infertility

Indiana University, School of Medicine

TERRE-HAUTE

1530 N 7th Street, Suite 101, Terre-Haute IN 47807 812-238-3800