Women's Health Procedures
- Women's Health - Home
- Fallopian Tube Recanalization - Infertility Treatments using Minimally Invasive Surgical Solutions and Procedures
- Pelvic Pain (Chronic) - Chronic Pelvic Pain Treatment Using Minimally Invasive Surgical Solutions and Procedures
- Uterine Fibroid Embolization - Uterine Fibroid Embolization using Minimally Invasive Surgical Solutions and Procedures
Tubal Occlusion Treatment
Essure - A Breakthrough Technology
The Essure procedure is performed by a trained gynecologist. A soft,
flexible micro-insert is placed into each fallopian tube through your
body's natural pathways.
In clinical testing, the total procedure
took about 35 minutes, with only 15 minutes required to place the
micro-inserts into the fallopian
tubes. Most women were able to leave
the facility 45 minutes after the procedure. In the Pivotal Trial of
Essure, 92% of working women resumed work in 24 hours or less after the
day of the procedure. In fact, many women resumed normal physical
activities the same day they had the procedure.
Essure Works With Your Body
Unlike tubal ligation (having your tubes tied) or vasectomy, the Essure procedure does not require incisions or punctures to the body and there is no cutting, clipping, suturing, or burning of tubes. 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.
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 99.80% effective in preventing pregnancy after
three years of follow-up. Additionally, 92% of women who relied on
Essure rated their long-term satisfaction with Essure as "somewhat
satisfied" to "very satisfied" at 3 years of follow-up.
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 least three months after the procedure
- The Essure procedure is newer than other procedures
- Removal of the Essure micro-inserts would require surgery