Essure Female Sterilization
From the website with a little bit of editing….
The Essure procedure is the first and only FDA approved female sterilization procedure to have zero pregnancies in the clinical trials. The Essure procedure is permanent and is NOT reversible. Therefore, you should be sure you do not want children in the future.
The Essure procedure is different than the traditional method of a surgical tubal ligation. With Essure the doctor inserts spring-like coils, called micro-inserts… into your fallopian tubes.
The procedure can be performed in your doctor’s office without general anesthesia .
During the first 3 months following the procedure, your body and the micro-inserts work together to form a tissue barrier that prevents sp*rm from reaching the egg. During this period, you will need to use another form of birth control.
After 3 months, your doctor will perform an Essure Confirmation Test, a special type of x-ray to confirm that your tubes are completely blocked and you can rely 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 your natural menstrual cycle. Your periods should more or less continue in their natural state.
THOUGHTS?? LADIES?? It’s non-hormonal so it is NOT an abortifacient. Unlike the IUD which results in 100% of abortions or other hormonal/barrier methods that are created to have a 3 tiered method to prevent the conception of or ability to maintain a pregnancy….(hormonal birth control products can and do cause chemical abortions) – this idea seems to be very simple to me. Block the fallopian tubes. It seems safer than a Vasectomy even. What do you think?
And I’m not asking for a quick rundown on the Quiverfull Doctrinal Position of Life. Been there done that….
Okay, this is the same one that my Dr. talked with me about and I think everything about it sounds good. I did find some people complaining of pain on websites but given that I know nothing about them it is difficult to take that at face value. Of all the methods this one does seem like the best.
I do totally agree on the abortifacient issue.
Lol, I also agree on the rundown of the quiverfull doctrine. Been there done that too.
I have been in flux with this decision for a while so we have decided to put it off for another few years.
Yeah – since this is 100% NOT reversible…good thing to wait until you are 100% sure on this one.
I think I’m going to go back in and talk to the Dr. about it though. To me it seems like a really good idea – but … it just seems… too good to be true. ???
My thoughts are although this may be an easier and more ethical way to prevent pregnancy than a vasectomy or hormonal methods, I feel as though if I give birth, they can get fixed and if I can’t give birth, I don’t really want any more periods. Those are just personal opinions though.
One question:
Where do all the eggs go?
If they have to stay in the ovaries, your OB/GYN has just guaranteed him/herself a customer for the next 20 years, or your hysterectomy, whichever comes first.
The eggs leave the ovaries and enter the fallopian tubes. Then the eggs die and are reabsorbed into the body. They are about as big as the period at the end of this sentence.
I don’t understand your last sentence.
My Ob/Gyn wants me to have a hysterectomy already and I’m only 32. I’m opting for the Essure. Seems a little less invasive than ripping out all the plumbing!
I found this blog searching for…well, it’s not important, but just thought I’d chime in. I had the Essure procedure done yesterday. I’m about 30 hours post-procedure now and I feel great. In fact, this evening, I’m going to take my kids swimming and we’ll be at church in the morning! There was a little cramping during the procedure and for a few hours, but the medication knocked it out without any problem. So far, I highly recommend it!
And yes, I’m 100% sure I’m DONE having kiddos!!
I am having the procedure done on Thursday. Oct 16th- I am nervous but very confident in my Dr. I am 31 an have an 11 year old daughter and a 4 year old son. My husband and I are done having children for sure. I did have to wait 30 days to make sure that I would not change my mind. I will post again to let you know how it went.
My sister, 41 years old, thought Essure was right for her, but during the office procedure, two of the “coils” broke off inside her puncturing her uterus. Two weeks ago, she had to have a quick partial hysterectomy because of this.
Early this morning she was rushed to the ER with an arterial bleed and is getting blood transfusions now that they patched up the ripped artery. I think huge complications are happening to some patients because of this procedure, and you’re going to hear about more cases, I’m afraid. Be careful.
Any updates? I would like to anyone elses experience with this. It sounds almost to good to be true – but I would love to know it was a realistic options.
Thanks
Michelle
Hey Michelle! I have opted to NOT have the Essure procedure. My family Dr. is very conservative with invasive medicine. He said, when I asked him about it, that he was concerned b/c there just isn’t enough information about it yet. He said when he was doing rotations, back in the day (he’s an older man), that OB/Gyn’s spent a lot of time unblocking fallopian tubes because blocked fallopian tubes were a medical malady. So he is concerned now that the Dr’s are purposefully blocking them. He just doesn’t think it’s a good idea.
He also said that medicine is about keeping the body functioning as it was designed to and he doesn’t believe that medicine should be “made to order.” He said stuff like this bothers him because it turns medicine into a “fast food ordering system.” I got what he was saying. Not sure I agree with him, philosophically on that or not – but I respect his opinion.
In the end, my husband and I agreed to heed his wisdom. He is a bit older than us and has seen more than we’ll ever see – and if he thinks it’s just generally a bad idea – we trust him.
Presently we use Natural Family Planning. It has worked effectively for us for 13 yrs. I’m 33 – maybe in 7 years menopause will kick in and I won’t have to even worry about it much longer! LOL!!!
Thanks for the info. Sarah. That all sounds reasonable to me. The blocked fallopian tubes concerned me too. I’m just really wanting to find a permanent solution and my insurance doesn’t cover tubal ligation, or birth control of any kind.
I’m older than you – but not hoping for menopause yet! lol. May have to check more into Natural Family Planning (though the thought scares me)
Thanks again!
Michelle
i had the essure done in feb’2008 and found a doctor who is going to take them out..I have 2 friends that had it done before me and they are both pregnant now So i dont see why ppl are getting the essure when it doesnt really work..So far i havent gotten prego but i have had 2 scares where i thought i was..Just be careful when getting this done..
My sister had the Essure done in October 2008. She is now 8 weeks pregnant; and the baby is inside of her uterus. Does anyone know someone who has gotten pregnant after this procedure and delivered a healthy baby.