Essure® is a permanent birth control option for women.
It contains no hormones and does not require any skin incisions.
How does Essure® work?
During the Essure® procedure, your doctor will place a small, flexible device called a "micro-insert" into each fallopian tube.
There are no incisions necessary because the inserts are placed into the fallopian tubes through the vagina and cervix.
Once the Essure® micro-inserts are in place, your body will begin to create a natural barrier, occluding (or blocking) the tubes so that sperm cannot travel through them.
If sperm cannot travel through the tubes, they cannot reach the eggs and a pregnancy cannot happen.
How effective is Essure®?
In clinical trials, Essure® has been shown to be 99.8% effective, comparable to "traditional" tubal sterilization.
Does Essure® prevent pregnancy immediately?
No. Because it takes time for your body to create a barrier in the tube, you should continue to use other birth control methods for at least 3 months after the Essure® micro-inserts are placed.
Three months after the Essure® procedure, your doctor will instruct you to get an Essure® Confirmation Test. This test will make sure the fallopian tubes are blocked and that sperm cannot travel through them. Once that test confirms the tubes blocked, no other birth control methods are needed.
What is the Essure® Confirmation Test?
The Essure® Confirmation Test is called a hysterosalpingogram (or HSG).
It is an x-ray test. During the HSG, a special dye will be infused into your uterus and x-ray images will be taken to make sure the dye cannot travel through the tubes.
If I change my mind, can Essure® be reversed?
Like any other sterilization procedure, you should not have Essure® done if you think you may want to have children in the future.
While it may be possible to reverse Essure®, it can be expensive and the surgery required to do so is not always successful.
If you think you would like to have more children, you should talk to your healthcare provider about other birth control options.
