Birth control is more than just a matter of preventing pregnancy. The
method of control that you choose must be compatible with your body and
your lifestyle. If your family is complete or if you know you do not
want any more children permanent birth control must be considered. In
the good old days, this meant a trip to an operating room,a general
anesthetic and 1 to 2 incisions on your belly so that your tubes could
be cut, burnt or clamped. Not only is this method inconvenient, it is
also painful, risky and made you miss work.
Today,
the Essure procedure is a method of non invasive permanent birth
control that has replaced the above. It is done in the comfort of the
doctor's office, with no general anesthetic or incisions. After the
procedure you can resume normal activities that same day without the
need for post op pain medications.
How Essure Works
The Essure procedure consists of 2 small inserts that
are placed in the fallopian tubes by a doctor. Since they are inserted
through the vagina and cervix, no surgery is involved. Once these tubes
are in place, the procedure is completed. The inserts are designed to be
flexible so that they can bend and conform to the shape of the body
while remaining securely in place. These inserts are made from the same
material that is used of a variety of medical devices like heart stents
and are proven to be safe. They do not contain any hormones so the
question of any hormonal reactions does not arise. Once in place these
inserts form the core of a natural barrier that develops over them which
acts to prevent sperms from reaching the ovum.
The Benefits of Essure
- The procedure typically takes about 10 minutes and can be performed in a doctor’s office without the use of general anesthesia.
- In most cases women are able to go home within an hour of the procedure being completed and are able to return to normal activities within 1 or 2 days.
- The inserts do not contain any hormones that could be released into the body.
- Essure has been proven to be 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.
- Essure has been available for over 10 years and is FDA approved.
Safety Issues
As with any medical procedure that is permanent, there are various safety factors that must be taken into consideration.
- Essure Tubal Ligation is a permanent form of birth control. You must be sure that you do not want to have any more children. If you would like to keep the possibility of conceiving again open, Essure is not for you.
- It takes about 3 months for the natural barriers to form over the inserts and so prevent conception. During this time some other form of birth control must be used.
- In a few cases mild pain, cramping, vaginal bleeding and pelvic or back pain may be experienced for a few days. If it does, your doctor can prescribe medication to deal with the problem.
- The Essure procedure does not offer protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases so precautions must be taken to prevent infection.
Is It Right For You?
While Essure Tubal Ligation offers a safe, convenient
and effective form of permanent birth control, it may not be right for
everyone. If you are looking for a permanent method of birth control,
you should talk to your OB /GYN about Essure and the various options
available to you. Once you have the information you need, you and your
doctor can take a decision on what is best for you. In many cases, it
will be Essure Tubal Ligation.
