Compare Essure to hormonal and barrier birth control methods

When making a decision about whether to get permanent birth control, it is important to know all of your options, including whether to remain on hormonal and barrier methods of birth control. Birth control pills, patches, and condoms are examples of this category. Unlike these methods of birth control, Essure does not contain hormones, does not involve a routine, and is intended for women who are done having children. The chart below compares Essure to these methods of birth control.

Oral Contraceptive	Injection (Depo Provera®)	NoVaginal Contraceptive Ring (NuvaRing®)	Patch (Ortho Evra®)
Male Condom	Female Condom	Diaphragm with Spermicide	Spermicide

Method	Description	Failure Rate	Is the method hormone‑free?	Risks	Routine
Oral Contraceptive	An estrogen and/or progestin-based pill that suppresses ovulation	8% (80 pregnancies per thousand women) *Based on a comparison of 1 year data	Yes	Dizziness, nausea, changes in menstruation, mood, weight gain, acne, pain. Increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, blood clots, heart attack, stroke	Must be taken daily
Essure	Soft hormone-free inserts are placed into each fallopian tube. The inserts work with your body to form a natural barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg	0.05% (0.5 pregnancies per 1000 women) *Based on a comparison of 1 year data	Yes	Temporary cramps and/or discharge during or immediately following the procedure	Once (permanent)

 

Method	Description	Failure Rate	Is the method hormone‑free?	Risks	Routine
Injection (Depo Provera®)	A progestin-containing injection that inhibits ovulation and fertilization	3% (30 pregnancies per thousand women) *Based on a comparison of 1 year data	Yes	Irregular bleeding, weight gain, breast tenderness, headaches. Prolonged use may result in bone loss	One injection every month or every three months.
Essure	Soft hormone-free inserts are placed into each fallopian tube. The inserts work with your body to form a natural barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg	0.05% (0.5 pregnancies per 1000 women) *Based on a comparison of 1 year data	Yes	Temporary cramps and/or discharge during or immediately following the procedure	Once (permanent)

 

Method	Description	Failure Rate	Is the method hormone‑free?	Risks	Routine
NoVaginal contraceptive ring (NuvaRing®)	A flexible ring inserted in the vagina that releases progestin and estrogen to prevent ovulation and fertilization	8% (80 pregnancies per thousand women) *Based on a comparison of 1 year data	Yes	Vaginal discharge and infection, irritation, other risks similar to those posed by oral contraceptives	Inserted and kept in place for three-week intervals. If expelled for more than three hours during the three-week interval, another method of contraception must be used
Essure	Soft hormone-free inserts are placed into each fallopian tube. The inserts work with your body to form a natural barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg	0.05% (0.5 pregnancies per 1000 women) *Based on a comparison of 1 year data	Yes	Temporary cramps and/or discharge during or immediately following the procedure	Once (permanent)

 

Method	Description	Failure Rate	Is the method hormone‑free?	Risks	Routine
Patch (Ortho Evra®)	A patch worn on the body that releases progestin and estrogen to prevent ovulation and fertilization	8% (80 pregnancies per thousand women) *Based on a comparison of 1 year data	Yes	Similar to oral contraceptives	A new patch must be applied each week, except for the week of the menstrual period
Essure	Soft hormone-free inserts are placed into each fallopian tube. The inserts work with your body to form a natural barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg	0.05% (0.5 pregnancies per 1000 women) *Based on a comparison of 1 year data	Yes	Temporary cramps and/or discharge during or immediately following the procedure	Once (permanent)

 

Method	Description	Failure Rate	Is the method hormone‑free?	Risks	Routine
Male condom	A sheath placed over the penis that prevents passage of sperm	15% (150 pregnancies per 1000 women) *Based on a comparison of 1 year data	No	Irritation, allergic reactions, reduced effectiveness if used with oil-based lubricants	Applied immediately before intercourse and used only once
Essure	Soft hormone-free inserts are placed into each fallopian tube. The inserts work with your body to form a natural barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg	0.05% (0.5 pregnancies per 1000 women) *Based on a comparison of 1 year data	Yes	Temporary cramps and/or discharge during or immediately following the procedure	Once (permanent)

 

Method	Description	Failure Rate	Is the method hormone‑free?	Risks	Routine
Female condom	A lubricated sheath placed in the vagina to prevent sperm from entering the uterus	21% (210 pregnancies per 1000 women) *Based on a comparison of 1 year data	No	Irritation and allergic reactions	Applied immediately before intercourse and used only once.
Essure	Soft hormone-free inserts are placed into each fallopian tube. The inserts work with your body to form a natural barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg	0.05% (0.5 pregnancies per 1000 women) *Based on a comparison of 1 year data	Yes	Temporary cramps and/or discharge during or immediately following the procedure	Once (permanent)

 

Method	Description	Failure Rate	Is the method hormone‑free?	Risks	Routine
Diaphragm with spermicide	A flexible, dome-shaped rubber disk that covers the cervix so sperm cannot reach the uterus—a spermicide must be applied before insertion	16% (160 pregnancies per 1000 women) *Based on a comparison of 1 year data	Yes	Irritation, allergic reactions, urinary tract infection, risk of toxic shock syndrome	Inserted before intercourse and left in place for 6 to 24 hours. Spermicide must be added for repeated intercourse
Essure	Soft hormone-free inserts are placed into each fallopian tube. The inserts work with your body to form a natural barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg	0.05% (0.5 pregnancies per 1000 women) *Based on a comparison of 1 year data	Yes	Temporary cramps and/or discharge during or immediately following the procedure	Once (permanent)

 

Method	Description	Failure Rate	Is the method hormone‑free?	Risks	Routine
Spermicide	A foam, cream, jelly, film, suppository or tablet containing nonoxynol-9, a sperm-killing chemical	29% (290 pregnancies per 1000 women) *Based on a comparison of 1 year data	Yes	Irritation, allergic reactions, urinary tract infections	Inserted 5 to 90 minutes before intercourse
Essure	Soft hormone-free inserts are placed into each fallopian tube. The inserts work with your body to form a natural barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg	0.05% (0.5 pregnancies per 1000 women) *Based on a comparison of 1 year data	Yes	Temporary cramps and/or discharge during or immediately following the procedure	Once (permanent)

 

Data adapted from Trussell J. Contraceptive efficacy. In Hatcher RA, Trussell J, Nelson AL, Cates W, Stewart FH, Kowal D. Contraceptive Technology: Nineteenth Revised Edition. New York NY: Ardent Media, 2007. Please note: Not all temporary methods of birth control can be used during the 3-month waiting time following the Essure procedure. Please talk to your physician about what form of temporary birth control you should use during this time.