Real Stories from Women with Essure^®

Amy is 39 years old and married with a 3-year-old daughter. She and her husband always knew that they only wanted 1 child, ”[We] were on the same page with children; we knew if we had 1 child, that would be all.” After the birth of their daughter, Amy went back on The Pill for birth control. Since Amy and her husband knew their family was complete, she was looking at other options for permanent birth control, “I knew that I needed a…more permanent option because I did not want to get pregnant again.” Essure^® has been shown to be over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy based on clinical study data in patients who were told to rely on Essure for birth control.

At a routine checkup with her OB/GYN, Amy brought up permanent birth control. Her doctor recommended Essure. Supported by both her doctor and her husband, Amy decided to go ahead with Essure, “I decided Essure was right for me based on the recommendation by my doctor…and my independent research.” For Amy, the fact that no cutting is required to place Essure was a key factor in her choice.

Amy had the procedure about 6 weeks later. She felt fully informed about what was going to happen and said, “The procedure itself…felt like slight spasming.” She had “some cramping after.” The other most common side effects women experience with the Essure procedure include cramping, mild to moderate pain, vaginal bleeding, and pelvic or back discomfort for a few days after the procedure. Some women experience headaches, nausea and/or vomiting, or dizziness and/or fainting.

About 3 months after Amy got Essure, she had the Essure Confirmation Test. It was administered by a doctor using an x-ray and contrast dye. Women must continue to use another form of birth control until they have the Essure Confirmation Test and their doctor tells them that they can rely on Essure for birth control.

Amy has now had Essure for about 3 years, “I feel good and confident in my choice of Essure for permanent birth control…”

She urges other women to talk to a trusted doctor, and other women who—along with their doctors—have chosen Essure, and to research Essure on their own to make sure it's right for them. There are risks associated with the Essure procedure and the Essure Confirmation Test. Because one of the Essure Confirmation Tests (a modified HSG) requires an x-ray, you may be exposed to very low levels of radiation if an x-ray is performed. This is standard with most x-rays. Other risks associated with the Essure procedure include the possibilities of long-term pelvic pain and of an Essure insert being located in the lower abdomen and pelvis. If this happens, you cannot rely on Essure for birth control, and surgery may be necessary to remove the insert. There is also the possibility that, if you become pregnant, it may be an ectopic pregnancy, which can be serious. Patients with known hypersensitivity to polyester fibers, nickel, titanium, stainless steel (iron, chromium nickel), platinum, silver-tin and or any of the components of the Essure system may experience an allergic reaction to the insert. This includes patients with a history of metal allergies. In addition, some patients may develop an allergy to nickel or other components of the insert following placement. Symptoms reported in women using Essure that may be associated with an allergic reaction include hives, rash, swelling and itching. There is no reliable test to predict who may develop a reaction to the inserts. Click here for Important Safety Information. Click here for Patient Information about Essure.

Meredith is 40 years old and married with two children. Her plan was to have a family of 3 but as time went by, her plans changed, “We moved and I realized that I was getting closer to 40, and…I'm kind of over that stage in my life, and I like where it is right now. And of course, a baby would be wonderful, but I feel very fulfilled.”

Once Meredith knew her family was complete, she talked to her doctor about birth control options. “I'd been on The Pill for so many years, and I just didn't want to keep…taking hormones….And it was getting expensive on my insurance plan. So, [permanent birth control] was something that my doctor had suggested…It just seemed like it was [a good] option for me.”

Meredith and her doctor discussed tying her tubes, but it didn’t seem like the right choice for her. “He was skeptical about tying my tubes without having a C-section because he just felt it was unnecessary surgery…I just really wasn't comfortable with it.” They talked about Essure and Meredith decided, “It just seemed like [a good] option for me, for us really…Once I knew that this was an option…my husband was on board pretty quickly with it as well.” Essure is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy based on clinical study data in women told to rely on Essure for birth control.

A few months later, Meredith had the Essure procedure, “After the procedure, I felt maybe like I had…a light menstrual period.” There “might have been…stinging, and [there] might have been…discomfort.” The most common side effects women experience with the Essure procedure include cramping, mild to moderate pain, vaginal bleeding, and pelvic or back discomfort for a few days after the procedure. Some women experience headaches, nausea and/or vomiting, or dizziness and/or fainting.

As instructed by her doctor, Meredith continued using backup birth control and she had the Essure Confirmation Test about three months later. Meredith’s doctor reviewed the results of the Essure Confirmation Test and told her that it showed that the inserts were in the right place and that her fallopian tubes were blocked. At that point, Meredith could stop using the backup birth control and rely on Essure to prevent pregnancy.

Two years after having her Essure procedure, Meredith had some advice for women thinking about getting Essure. “Really make sure that you are satisfied with your family…and, there’s no desire to have more children because it is permanent,”she said. “For me, it was [a good] option.” She urges other women to talk to a trusted doctor and women who have chosen Essure, and to research Essure on their own to make sure it’s right for them. There are risks associated with the Essure procedure and with the Essure Confirmation Test. Because one of the Essure Confirmation Tests (a modified HSG) requires an x-ray, you may be exposed to very low levels of radiation if an x-ray is performed. This is standard with most x-rays. Other risks associated with the Essure procedure include the possibilities of long-term pelvic pain and of an Essure insert being located in the lower abdomen and pelvis. If this happens, you cannot rely on Essure for birth control, and surgery may be necessary to remove the insert. There is also the possibility that, if you become pregnant, it may be an ectopic pregnancy, which can be serious. Click here for Important Safety Information. Click here for Patient Information about Essure.