Printer-friendly format

For women who have conscientiously made the decision to permanently prevent future pregnancies, a novel procedure being offered in clinics across Memphis will allow them to eliminate the uncertainty of birth control or traditional tubal litigation. The Essure™ System is a sterilization procedure that can be performed in the office, non-invasively, in about 10 to 12 minutes with or without local anesthesia, and typically with minimal discomfort. Essure, a procedure of bilateral occlusion of the fallopian tubes, is the first and only FDA approved female sterilization procedure to have zero pregnancies in clinical trials.

As explained by the manufacturer’s Web site, during the procedure, a soft, flexible micro-insert is delivered through the vagina and uterus via catheter and placed into each fallopian tube. The spring-like micro-insert expands during placement to fit the tube. Over a period of three months, tissue grows into the Essure micro-insert to form a barrier, effectively blocking the fallopian tube and preventing sperm from reaching the egg. It is slightly more effective than tubal litigation, at 99.95 percent, and it does not have the side effects associated with traditional sterilization such as pain and bleeding.

“I think the neatest thing about it is when you have a patient come into the office and they’re wide awake and they get the procedure done, and 20 to 30 minutes later they walk out of the office,” said Dr. Arthur Townsend, OB/GYN with Associates: Obstetrics and Gynecology, P.C.

Typically there is a 30-day waiting period for the procedure, in which patients are given the birth control injection Depo Provera to prevent pregnancy. The waiting period also effectively allows women time to fully consider their choice. Typical candidates are those who have completed child rearing years, although no patients are turned down specifically by age. Ultimately the ideal candidate is someone who is absolutely sure she desires no future pregnancies.

“I tell people no matter which method we decide on for sterilization, you should never go into a sterilization procedure with any idea of reversal because there are other good contraceptive methods and some of them are long-term options that can give you five to 10 years of protection, that are much more appropriate,” Townsend explained.

Patients who should not use the system are those who are unsure about the desire to end fertility, those who have previously undergone tubal litigation, and those with particular medical conditions or anyone with an allergy to the materials in the micro insert.

Over the three-month period while the micro-insert and the body are forming the tissue barrier, patients need to use another form of birth control. After three months the doctor will perform an Essure Confirmation Test, a special x-ray that confirms the tubes are completely blocked and patients can rely solely on the Essure micro-inserts for birth control.

Unlike birth control pills, patches, rings and some forms of IUDs, Essure does not contain hormones to interfere with a natural menstrual cycle. Periods should continue in their natural state.



May 2008

Tags:

None

Login and voice your opinion!