The Essure procedure is the most effective form of permanent birth control available. Essure is 99.74% effective with zero pregnancies based on 5 years of follow-up.

The Essure procedure was FDA approved in 2002 and is trusted by hundreds of thousands of women and doctors worldwide.

In clinical testing involving about 700 women, almost all women rated their comfort with the Essure procedure as “good” to “excellent” within one week. After the first week, almost all women rated their satisfaction with the Essure procedure as “good” to “excellent.”

Generally, no. Some women report mild discomfort or cramping, similar to a normal monthly cycle during or after the procedure.

The inserts are made from materials that have been used in the heart and other areas of the human body (e.g., heart valve replacements, blood vessel grafts, and abdominal repair) for many years. The inserts do not contain silicone.

There is a very, very small amount of nickel in the Essure insert; in fact, the amount released from the inserts on a daily basis is only 0.14µg/day, which is 1000x less than the amount of nickel that is consumed during the daily food intake. In the Essure clinical trials, no adverse reactions to nickel were reported. If you have questions about a possible nickel allergy, speak with your doctor.

The procedure is permanent and cannot be reversed. It is only meant to be used by women who are sure their family is complete.

Reversal may require surgery and there is no data on the safety and effectiveness of reversal.

Yes, Essure has been trusted by hundreds of thousands of women and doctors for over five years. The Essure procedure avoids the risks and discomfort of surgical procedures like tubal ligation and vasectomy. Additionally, the silicone-free inserts are made from materials that have been used successfully for many years in cardiac stents and other medical devices that are placed in the body.

In clinical testing, the average time to place an insert into both fallopian tubes was less than 10 minutes and the total procedure time was about 35 minutes.

During the first 3 months following the procedure, your body and the inserts work together to form a natural barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg. You will need to use another form of birth control during this time. After 3 months, your doctor will perform an Essure Confirmation Test to confirm both that the inserts have been correctly placed and that your tubes are completely blocked so you can rely on the Essure inserts for birth control.

In the Essure Pivotal Trial, women were typically able to leave the facility within 45 minutes after the procedure and almost all working women resumed work in 24 hours or less after the day of the procedure. Most women returned to normal activities the same day as the procedure.

The Essure procedure is covered by most health insurance. If the Essure procedure is performed in a doctor’s office, depending on your specific insurance plan, payment may be as low as a simple co-pay.

After an Essure procedure your ovaries will continue to produce eggs, which will be absorbed by your body.

Some women find that their period changes afterward, becoming slightly lighter or heavier. These changes may be the result of discontinuing hormone-based birth control and returning to your natural cycle.

No. The Essure inserts do not cause menopause.

Since Essure does not contain hormones, it should not cause weight gain.

Usually performed under general anesthesia, a laparoscopic tubal ligation is typically performed in an operating room. Gas is used to expand the abdomen so the doctor can reach the organs easily. The doctor then cuts into the abdomen so the surgical tools can be inserted to perform the procedure. The fallopian tubes are blocked by clamping with metal clips or plastic rings, cutting away a section of the tube, or burning a portion of the tube.

• Cauterization – uses electrical current to burn and block each fallopian tube
• A ring or band – a section of each fallopian tube is folded together and that section is tied or bound with a ring or band. The rings or bands remain inside the body
• A clip/clamp – crushes the tube together so the sperm can not pass through the fallopian tube. The clips/clamps remain inside the body
• Ligation – a portion of each tube is tied or bound in two places and the section in between is cut away and removed

The procedure is complete when the opening cuts are closed with stitches or metal staples.

After returning home, women typically take 4-6 days before they can resume regular activities. According to the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology, after returning home, women may have the following symptoms for a few days:

• Cramps (like menstrual cramps)
• Discharge (like menstrual flow)
• Mild nausea or vomiting associated with the general anesthesia or the procedure
• Sharp pains in the neck or shoulder (caused by the gas)
• Pain in the incision
• A sore scratchy throat if a breathing tube was used
• Feeling tired and achy
• Bloated abdomen
• Bruising around the incision

The Essure procedure differs from a tubal ligation because it does not involve incisions and can be performed without anesthesia in a doctor’s office. Recovery time at home is typically 1 to 2 days, though it is not unusual for a woman to return to regular activities the very same day. Recovery may include the following symptoms:

• Cramps (like menstrual cramps)
• Discharge (like a light menstrual flow or spotting)
• Mild nausea or vomiting (related to anesthesia)
• Fainting or light-headedness following the procedure (related to anesthesia)

Because incisions are made in the abdomen and the laparoscope is inserted blindly into the abdomen, complications may include

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Damage to blood vessels, nerves, or muscles
• Damage to the bladder, uterus, or bowel, requiring surgical repair
• Blood clots
• Failure of the procedure resulting in pregnancy
• In rare cases, death

Following general anesthesia, some people may experience the following:

• Negative reaction to the medication
• Feeling sick to your stomach
• Slowness of the anesthesia to wear off
• A sore throat if a tube is used during the general anesthesia
• Seizure or heart attack
• High temperature
• Confusion
• Death

Yes. Vasectomy is a surgical operation with associated risks. A vasectomy requires that the man's scrotum is cut or punctured, the vas deferens cut, and the ends of the vas deferens are either burned or clipped closed.

A vasectomy takes about 15 to 30 minutes, and recovery is usually about 2 days. The man may also need to apply ice packs to the scrotum and wear an athletic supporter for several days to prevent swelling and bruising. The couple must use an alternative form of birth control, typically for 3 months or until a sperm count test demonstrates that the vasectomy was successful.

A 6 month sperm test is recommended.

Vasectomy is 98.87% effective after five years of follow-up. No method of birth control is 100% effective and there is a small chance of pregnancy, even many years following the procedure.

Complications may include the following:

• Bruising on the scrotum
• Infection of the incision/puncture in the scrotum
• Painful testicles (epididymitis)
• Sperm may leak into the surrounding tissue forming small lumps (granuloma) in the scrotum

The Essure procedure should be the first permanent birth control consideration for all women.

Essure may be right for you if you:

• Are certain you do not want any more children
• Want to stop worrying about unplanned pregnancy forever
• Want the most effective permanent birth control available
• Want to stop managing your temporary birth control method
• Would like to stop taking hormone-based birth control
• Want to avoid the incision, scarring, burning, radiofrequency energy, silicone or risks of other birth control procedures
• Are concerned about the risks of general anesthesia
• Want more spontaneity in your sexual relationship
• Want confirmation that you are protected from unplanned pregnancy

You should delay your decision if you:

• May want to have children in the future
• Are pregnant or think you might be pregnant
• Have been pregnant during the past six weeks
• Have an active or recent pelvic infection
• Feel pressured by someone else to have the procedure
• Are going through major life changes, such as a divorce
• Are managing serious health problems