Real Answers from Women That Have Had Essure

Kendra:

Both of my children are in college and my job as a nursing supervisor is challenging and can be stressful. I fill my leisure time with boating, gardening, exercising and family time. I wanted a birth control that was permanent (tired of taking the pill) that had minimum recovery time.

Kathy:

My husband wanted to have five children, but I told him I thought three was enough. With three kids in diapers and formula, we couldn’t afford to have any more. We wanted to raise our kids right and spend time with them. My husband and I came to the realization that permanent birth control was the right decision for us.

Estee:

I work full time as an attorney and I am married with two children—a six-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son. I feel very fortunate to have two healthy children and my husband and I mutually agreed that this would be our family.

Angie:

When I was pregnant with both of my children I had gestational diabetes, which became worse with my second child. I delivered him two weeks early and he still weighed nine pounds one ounce at birth. My doctor and I had a hard time controlling the diabetes and I knew it would probably be harder on my body if we had any more children. My husband and I decided that our family was complete with our two wonderful boys.

Cheryl:

My husband and I felt that one child is right for us both emotionally and financially. We felt we can really enjoy being with her and put all our energies into making her a wonderful person. Also, financially we can survive in the San Francisco Bay Area and still enjoy family vacations and splurge on ourselves.

Renda:

I knew that I didn’t want to have children. Then I married my husband and he didn’t want children either so it was nice that we agreed. One by one I told my friends. They were extremely accepting of the decision we made.

Estee:

I talked to my doctor about having a tubal ligation after the birth of my son. It was then she told me about the Essure procedure. She told me to review some of the pamphlets and visit the web site. She told me that she also had had the Essure procedure and she highly recommended it. She has been my doctor for years and I trust her recommendation. That made the decision easy.

Cheryl:

My husband and I decided to talk to my doctor about a permanent solution. He told us he would explain all three options to us and we said, ”What do you mean three?” We had only heard of a tubal ligation and vasectomy.

Angie:

I made an appointment with an OB/GYN who performed vasectomies and made a plan to stock up on frozen peas and beer for my husband. At the consultation, he was very informative about the Essure procedure. He made it perfectly clear that he was not trying to change our minds, but that Essure was less invasive and had less recovery time than a vasectomy. After thinking it over, my husband and I decided that the Essure procedure was the way to go for us.

Renda:

On my annual checkup with my doctor, she asked me if I was happy with my current form of birth control. We started discussing our decision not to have children and she told me about Essure. She knew a doctor who performed the Essure procedure and she referred me to him. My husband was very supportive of my decision.

Kathy:

As soon as I heard there was no cutting, I wanted it. I knew there was no way I could have a tubal ligation and think I’m going to recover from it with my three kids!

Estee:

Another factor in my deciding on Essure was that there would be no incision, and that was important to me. I was very fortunate because I had two regular deliveries—no C-sections, so no scars. It gave me hope that one day I could wear a bikini again!

Kendra:

I didn’t want to have a tubal ligation because I didn’t want incisions or the pain following that type of surgery. I was looking for something less traumatic and I didn’t want to become pregnant in my early forties.

Latia:

I was really going to go for a tubal ligation, but there were women at work who told me how much pain they had experienced with their tubals. To be out of work, out of commission for five days, for a simple procedure, that really just kind of threw me off.

Renda:

My husband had planned on getting a vasectomy, but I was nervous about that because it requires an incision.

Kathy:

The difference for me is no more pills. I feel free!

Cheryl:

I had been on the pill for 15 years and was concerned about the long-term effects.

Renda:

I was tired of being on temporary methods of birth control. I had tried so many types of birth control over the years. I have been on several different types of birth control pills. I have tried condoms and sponges. I had the Norplant inserted in my arm and was on high levels of hormones for a couple of years. That was unpleasant. I had to have it taken out early. I had tried creams and foams, but I am allergic to some things. I was tired of dealing with it all.

Kathy:

The procedure was done in my doctor’s office. The setting was very comfortable and I was in and out in two hours.

Estee:

I loved the Essure procedure because it was simple, fast, and permanent, which I wanted. What I especially loved was no downtime. As busy as I am, a working mother of two children and running a household, I don’t have time for downtime. I don’t have time to be sick. My family depends on me.

Latia:

We scheduled my surgery for 10 o’clock in the morning and by ten-thirty I was done and out the door. It was so quick! The only side effect I had was mild cramping, and it was just like having a regular menstrual cycle. I felt wonderful.

Cheryl:

I watched on the monitor as the doctor inserted the coils in my tubes. It was fascinating to watch! That was it. I was done. I took another Motrin® after because I was afraid that I was going to start having pain, but I never did.

Kathy:

I left the doctor’s office and went shopping. I really didn’t feel like I had to recover from anything.

Angie:

I like the fact that there was no cutting with the Essure procedure. I didn’t have to take time off work and I was up and running around within hours.

Estee:

After I had the procedure, my husband drove me home and I rested for the remainder of the day. I had slight cramping for a few days, so I took Advil® for the pain.

Renda:

The procedure went well. My husband took me home and I took a couple pain pills over a 24-hour span and then I took Midol® and Pamprin®  a few times after that for cramping. I was back to my normal self in 24 hours.

Kendra:

I had only slight cramping upon waking, took one pain pill, because I did not want it to get any worse, and was home in less than an hour. I slept for about three hours, got up took a shower, ate dinner, and went to an out-of-town football game. I sat on bleachers, yelled for my daughter’s team and enjoyed the game without any pain.

Latia:

At the three-month follow-up, I had the confirmation test to make sure my tubes were blocked. The procedure was quick and easy, and I had no problems. I didn’t experience any pain at all.

Cheryl:

I was really happy when the test confirmed that the inserts had worked, my tubes were blocked, and I couldn’t get pregnant again.

Estee:

The test was a little uncomfortable, but it wasn’t painful. I didn’t think it was any more severe than having a Pap smear or other procedures that are typical in an OB/GYN’s office. Given that I had already made up my mind about not having any more children, I found the test reassuring. It was quick and I was in and out in less than an hour and I had no side effects from the test.

Renda:

I am really pleased with the choice I made to have the Essure procedure. My insurance covered everything except my co-pay, my periods didn’t change, and I now have freedom from thinking about birth control ever again.

Kathy:

When they told me the procedure had worked, my first reaction was happiness! I knew I was good to go. I knew I was free, no worries, no more pregnancies, and the sex is great now because I don’t have to think about birth control.

Latia:

Knowing that there won’t be any little accidents makes it more reassuring for us. It’s also reassuring to know that our children are at an age where they can take care of themselves and we don’t have to worry about bringing in a baby, the added daycare expense or who’s going to switch shifts.