For awhile women had access to hysteroscopic device implantation. Eventually over 23,000 adverse events were reported to the FDA, which brought this Essure sterilization procedure under more scrutiny, and before they were taken off the market voluntarily by their company for lack of sales, in the US, they did have warnings in the labeling of potential complications.
The device Essure was designed to be placed, and then checked to make sure the tubes sealed in 3 months. Only about 3% of women still had open tubes or device misplacement at that 3 month mark.
About 750,000 women did receive their devices, and some women have had these for over 10 years, but there is not much data beyond 7 years of use. For most women, if you have gone beyond 2 years of use, the long term risk of needing another operation for contraception is very low.
Women have reported a variety of complications from Essure devices, including dislodged devices, organ perforation, and pelvic pain. Various groups have been tracking the symptoms women have reported from the device for awhile.
Previously there was another device, the Adiana, that was also a transcervical sterilization method that was removed from the market. It’s failure rate was greater than the Essure device.
Now the
Women should remember the DMPA and IUDs when properly used have success rates of contraception that are not markedly different from sterilization and they are reversible, making these excellent contraception choices.
If you currently have an Essure it may be worth discussing any symptoms you are having so that the placement of your coils can be ascertained and any potential side effects reported to the FDA.
