July 2018: Bayer Medical announced this month that it is discontinuing production of Essure.
This is an example of how lawyers can kill a decent product. Essure provided multitudes of women the freedom from worrying about getting pregnant without having to take medications or have surgery.
Some women experience cramps with their periods after Essure that are worse than they had before Essure… a possible side effect that is clearly stated in the product manual and in the consent. Most of my patients did not experience this side effect, though a few commented on it on follow up...they indicated it was a little annoying but were not unhappy with it.
But many other women apparently had much worse cramps and their lawyers sued Bayer into submission. BTW, many women have worsened menstrual cramps after having their tubes tied; likely the same side effect as seen with Essure.
I am leaving these pages about Essure on my site for a while as sort of a memorial.
Essure is a non-surgical method to block the fallopian tubes for women who are certain they do not want to get pregnant.
Most Essure inserts are placed by gynecologists. But if your GYN doesn't offer it I am happy to help. I place them using a highly accurate method that avoids perforation when placed with a hysteroscope, and is done with light sedation rather than general anesthesia. And there is no anesthesia bill to pay!
You have no doubt heard about the class action suits against Bayer, that company that manufactures Essure. The device is a good one, but it can make you cramp at the time of your period even if you never had pain with your period before. That's the most common side effect, occurring in about 1/5 women.
Patients in the lawsuit claim they didn't know about this. Well, dear reader, now you know. But you should also know that painful periods can start after having your tubes tied, too.
Most Essure inserts are placed by gynecologists. But if your GYN doesn't offer it I am happy to help. I place them using a highly accurate method that avoids perforation when placed with a hysteroscope, and is done with light sedation rather than general anesthesia. And there is no anesthesia bill to pay!
You have no doubt heard about the class action suits against Bayer, that company that manufactures Essure. The device is a good one, but it can make you cramp at the time of your period even if you never had pain with your period before. That's the most common side effect, occurring in about 1/5 women.
Patients in the lawsuit claim they didn't know about this. Well, dear reader, now you know. But you should also know that painful periods can start after having your tubes tied, too.
Essure is a tiny spring that is inserted into the fallopian tubes that block the tubes. It has been placed in over 150,000 women and is clinically proven to be as effective as having your tubes tied! (BTL = bilateral tubal ligation) but involves no surgery. The device is FDA-approved and most insurance companies cover it. Now you can give yourself permanent protection and neither you or your partner has to endure surgery! I have to ask myself why any woman would choose to undergo surgery when she could have this procedure? If as a couple you have decided he is going to have a vasectomy, stop and ask, why should either of us get cut if we do not have to???
Say NO to BTL. Say NO to vasectomy.
Say NO to BTL. Say NO to vasectomy.
What follows is a description of how Essure works. Read on if you are curious. If you already know you want this procedure give us a call at (210) 616-7780.
How does Essure work?
The fallopian tubes transmit the ovum (egg) from a woman's ovary to her uterus. If those tubes are blocked, the ovum never comes into contact with a man's sperm, and therefore cannot become fertilized. Many woman are infertile because they have developed blocked tubes. The block may be from debris or scar tissue (natural blockage) or because the tube has been surgically interrupted via bilateral tubal ligation (BTL).
For many years we have been able to open the fallopian tubes for women whose tubes are blocked but want to get pregnant. Using the very same method, with a slight twist, we can now block the open tubes for women who are sure that they do not want to get pregnant.
The technique involves no surgery. We place the Essure in a very sophisticated room using specialized equipment at Methodist Hospital. A female nurse and technician are in the room with us. You will be on a table padded with a comfortable Tempur-Pedic mattress and place your legs in stirrups, just as you do during a pelvic exam. You will be given a light sedative which will help you feel quite relaxed. We then thread a small tube into the cervix. While that sounds creepy and painful, the tube is 30-40 times smaller than the head of a baby; and you most likely got through that. And if it does cause you any pain, we will stop that pain by changing what we are doing or by giving you additional medicine. The collapsed Essure coil slides in through the tube. Using real time X-ray (fluoroscopy) we know just when the coil is in the right place. After placing the first coil, we place the second into the tube on the other side.
For many years we have been able to open the fallopian tubes for women whose tubes are blocked but want to get pregnant. Using the very same method, with a slight twist, we can now block the open tubes for women who are sure that they do not want to get pregnant.
The technique involves no surgery. We place the Essure in a very sophisticated room using specialized equipment at Methodist Hospital. A female nurse and technician are in the room with us. You will be on a table padded with a comfortable Tempur-Pedic mattress and place your legs in stirrups, just as you do during a pelvic exam. You will be given a light sedative which will help you feel quite relaxed. We then thread a small tube into the cervix. While that sounds creepy and painful, the tube is 30-40 times smaller than the head of a baby; and you most likely got through that. And if it does cause you any pain, we will stop that pain by changing what we are doing or by giving you additional medicine. The collapsed Essure coil slides in through the tube. Using real time X-ray (fluoroscopy) we know just when the coil is in the right place. After placing the first coil, we place the second into the tube on the other side.
This graphic shows the Essure in place in the fallopian tube.
The procedure takes only a few minutes. During that time we use conscious sedation to ensure you are comfortable. You are not put to sleep (though it is fine if you chose to close your eyes and go to sleep). You will be ready to go home after the sedation wears off, in about 30 minute to an hour. Because we use the sedation, you will need to take the day off of work and arrange for someone to drive you home. But you can start routine activity again the next day.
While the Essure device can block the tube instantly, it takes some time to make sure it is maximally effective. You need to use another method of contraception for 3 months after the procedure. During that time, scar tissue is growing through the coil...it is this scar tissue that blocks off the tube permanently. For almost all women, this happens in less than 3 months (97%). 100% of tubes will be blocked at 6 months.
Here, tissue has grown into the Essure, permanently blocking the fallopian tube
Three months after the procedure we will check to make sure the tubes are blocked. As soon as we verify they are blocked, you can stop using any other form of contraceptive.
