No Kidding: Are You Essure?

I don't think that Essure has the same exposure as other long-term or permanent methods of birth control. I tried looking into it a few years ago; I live in a major metro area and have health insurance. Finding a doc who offers Essure was difficult. Then the actual steps involved -a consult, then getting the procedure - were difficult for me with having young children at home. Plus, they wanted me to go on hormonal birth control during the time pre-placement until after everything was all-clear, so at least several months. With all the hurdles, I ended up opting against it.

I encountered a lot of "are you sure" questions while going through tubal ligation a few years ago. I am already a mother to two children. On one hand, the questions were annoying. But on the other hand, I once had a coworker who had her tubes tied and then had them "untied", because she wanted to have another baby. So I just reconciled myself to the fact that everybody and their mom, literally, will ask if I was sure before we can finally get down to the procedure. Much like when you call a customer service line someplace and they ask you a dozen of stupid questions before you get service.

This birth control method still has such a high rate of complications that I would imagine it is especially scary for women with no health insurance. I even have health insurance, and it was new enough and had enough complications that I chose to get an IUD. The Feminist Women's Health Center in Atlanta specializes in women's reproductive health and a) doesn't do Essure and b) has such extensive experience already with IUDs.

I have to wonder about the media and political comments regarding competition in health care because tubal ligation was also a method I considered. I need to plan my finances and had already used my Flexible Savings Account funds. So I called Blue Cross, who said every dr. has different negotiated costs. I called one dr. who never returned my call for information, so after the 2nd call, I found a new one. This one took several calls and several weeks to finally get the dr. costs. She then gave me the hospital #, where I called and got THERE costs. They then said I needed to call the anesthesiologist to find out THERE cost. At more than one point, I was told that I would find out when I got the bill!!! As if that makes any sense!

So I finally gave up and used the fabulous Feminist Women's Health Center and got the much-used Paragard. While I bleed a bit more heavily (and after 40 was already bleeding fairly heavily), I have been delighted with not having to worry about pregnancy anymore! (I'm a divorced mother of 2, btw). By the 2nd month I was already back to pretty much an exactly 28 day menstrual cycle.

I would expect the Feminist Women's Health Center, and ANY responsible doctor. to provide counsel regarding the permanence of sterilization and the fact that some people later regret it. However, they would certainly not deny anyone any options. They are just careful everyone has all the facts before them. I don't think you can fault caregivers for this when you consider the number of women in the anti-choice movement who say they had an abortion and then regretted it. This has led to the ridiculous "protect women from the freedom to make a bad choice" view of abortion. I would only have a problem with a dr. who tries to limit my choices. But a dr. who simply makes their patients aware of all the pros and cons of a procedure and then leaves the informed choice to the patient, is most ethical.

I've spoken with my GYN at length about Essure and I would get it in a heartbeat! I'm hoping my new insurance that kicks in soon will cover at least most of it. I'm a 25 mother of two, so given my age I was prepared for a fight, but she was refreshingly agreeable. She told me most doctors wouldn't do the procedure for me unless I was much older or had many more children, but that she, "give[s] women more credit for knowing what they want."

A friend in another city is having the exact opposite experience. She also really wants to get it done. She's 28 and childfree and has been refused by every single GYN she's seen. She keeps getting told that she's going to change her mind eventually and to just keep taking birth control for now.

First, I hope experience as an uninsured childfree woman in the south is not typical. Every provider I've approached about long-term/permanent birth control has balked at the concept. Due to said lack of insurance, I get my annual exam and The Pill through our local health department. I also have migraines that are exacerbated by birth control, so I've discussed other options with the NPs there on several occasions. They will only help you pursue sterilization if you've had something like 3 children. Yep, let's let that sink in. A state-funded program will only assist you in not having children if you've already had children when you're clearly at enough of an economic disadvantage to require their services...services you would likely need to feed and provide medical care for three more human lives. WUT.

So, I scrapped the sterilization idea and asked about an IUD. And you guessed it--an IUD is only available if you've had at least one child. My NP searched the guidelines front to back, trying to find a loophole for me, but none exists. That's right. Long term but easily removable non-hormonal birth control? Gotta have a kid.

The loophole we finally found was--get this--a vasectomy for my husband. And that's only happening because he and a former girlfriend gave a child up for adoption. Yep. In my state, you can only make long-term reproductive decisions if you've already reproduced. What the hell?

Just for shits and giggles, I asked my private practice gyno that I see periodically about ovarian cysts about getting an IUD. He told me he wouldn't do it because I would change my mind and want to have a kid. *HEADDESK* At that point I decided that anyone that dense, sexist, and dismissive didn't need to be near my uterus, and I now see a different doctor at that practice.

I'm 30 years old. I know my own mind. I know that I definitely do not want or need to reproduce. Childfree women are not unicorns. We exist. We know what we do and do not want from our lives. Policy should not override my bodily autonomy.

I actually had an appointment with a young female doctor in Dayton, Ohio, for the Essure prodecure. I was 23 years old, unmarried, no kids, and no plans of ever having any.

Her name escapes me, as its been a few years since then, but I had no problem. She asked the required screening questions, basically asserting that I knew what the word "permanent" meant, and then scheduled me.

Unfortunately, I was dropped from my insurance (I was on my father's while I was in college) and could no longer afford the procedure, so I had to cancel the appointment.

To be honest, I was surprised it was so easy-- I was anticipating a fight, and lots of doctors acting like they knew better than me what I wanted for my life. A nurse hinted, "Dayton is one of the hot spots of the feminist movement-- we're a little more open-minded than you might find in the rest of Ohio."

Must be the case!

Last summer, I talked to two NPs in the same clinic about long-term birth control.

When I asked the first NP about Essure, he hemmed, hawed and said that doctors don't like performing tubal ligations on people my age--- I'm 25 and childless.

Two weeks later, I met with another NP who recommended Essure to me, saying it was safer than other options and that her own daughter had chosen the procedure.

For now, I'm mostly happy with my Paragard IUD. Hoping for Essure sometime in the future.

Great post!

Yes, I do feel that child-free women have much more trouble when it comes to receiving a permanent birth control. I myself am a young adult and I am 100% positive that I do not want children. It upsets me when I ask my doctor about the options of tubal ligation or Essure and she always tells me that I will "change my mind", and/or gives me a hard time. I have also talked to other medical practitioners and they too gave me a difficult time, which only resulted in me becoming more frustrated. I wish that I would be able to discuss my wishes about permanent birth control and not be lectured about my decision.

I'm 28 and childfree...I've wanted to be sterile since I was in my early twenties. I just saw a doctor for an Essure consultation yesterday...I got the usual little lecture, but he agreed to do it! June 8th, I become my own woman!

I am going to see if I can get it done around Denver this summer. I have never wanted kids, and all my life I've heard that I would change my mind. At 41, with one -count it, one - experience of thinking it might be sorta acceptable to have a kid, I will not be taking any questions about "being sure" nicely. Now it's fingers crossed for insurance coverage.

I had essure done in Nov. 2006 and have had nothing but problems since. My sex life is basically over. I have heavy periods that last for Weeks. At first Doctor that performed the procedure said it was because of switching from birth control and it would regulate on it's own. It's been six years and 4 gynos later a Dr. finally admits it's most likely my Esssure. Now I'm going to have to go through a hysterectomy. Turns out this "safe" form of permanent birth control has the highest complaint numbers of any form of birth control, permanent or temporary!

Hi .I had my procedure done in 04/2012 and it wasn't any big deal at all, im happy with .I went to get the hystero and I thought it was going to hurt because that's what I have been reading ,not at all it was pretty good it was like get a papsmear ,but the only bad news where that my left tube wasn't blocked yet so have to go back to my Dr and see what's going to happen next..but I really recommend that procedure...thks

After having Essure for a year now I have has nothing but complications! I have been reading the reviews and this proceedure seems like it was not studied long enough before the Dr.'s started pushing it on there patients! It was painfull the HSG was again painfull! I wish I had never had it done with a lot of other ladies suffering out there! We are thinking its a breeze easy proceedure and everything else they filled our heads with but its all BS! If this ESSURE is permanent then why are all these ladies getting pregnant! and why are the coils being found in different places in there bodies besides there tubes! The FDA needs to go back and do some more reviews! NOT PLEASED AT ALL!!!

Nowadays Essure is becoming more and more common, but I must say I do not trust the procedure, counting the fact that there are so many women on the net complaining about various problems encountered weeks and even years after having the Essure. I think this procedure might become good in the future, but now is just being sugar coated by doctors and need many fixing, like for example the material used in the coils - nickel - poisoned many of those women, and there is even a petition being made to reach FDA to stop and/or test the procedure for longer. There is also a Facebook page called Essure problems trying to gather women who have/had problems and even got pregnant after the HSG test gave 100% closure of the fallopian tubes, I advise you all to be careful and read a lot before doing it.

Here is the petition site, in case someone wants to join:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/739/313/687/essure-the-problems-it-has-ca...

I tried for about 10 years to get sterilized and met resistance from every doctor I talked to - I wasn't old enough/didn't have any kids/I’d change my mind. I was positive I didn’t want kids. I opted for birth control pills instead of continuing to fight. Then while on the birth control pills (and only having 1 tube), I find out I’m pregnant. Since the birth control pills didn’t seem to be very effective for me I tried again after my daughter was born with the same results (not old enough/only 1 child), but continued to ask at every appointment. Now I am in my mid-thirties and an unmarried mother of 2. After the birth of my second child when I asked about sterilization the doctor just asks me if I’m sure I want to do it this young and immediately gives me the information on Essure when I say that I am. What the heck, why couldn’t they have taken my word for it any of the other times I asked? Does having 2 kids suddenly make me able to decide things for myself?

So I got the Essure procedure done October 6th 2011, did the die and xray and showed that it was good that I wouldn't get pregnant, and here I sit finding out yesterday I am pregnant. I have 3 kids and my boyfriend has 1 we dont want any more kids thats the reason I got the procedure done. Now I am faced with the difficult decision of keeping or not keeping the baby, money is tight and we don;t have the room for another kid in the house.

Erin Brokovich has set up a website. www.essureprocedure.net
please join in on the fight against Conceptus, makers of Essure. tell your story. contact Erin. litigation is moving forward!

I had Essure a few months ago and believe me, I saw the complaints I've seen here. The fact is, the majority of people are happy with their Essure and have simply moved on with their lives. The complaint is about the nickel, which has been unfairly demonized, it is a routine part of surgical steel implants and in Essure the amount is less than the amount you even consume in a day. I myself don't wear cheap jewelry, I'm allergy prone, and I'm fine. I just haven't seen any credible science behind the claims. I see a lot of emotion, a lot of unrelated psychosomatic symptoms, and no facts. I'm not saying true complications can't occur, but they are within the acceptable minority levels.

I myself had an IUD fail me, but I realized that I was just unlucky and in that 1% and despite my luck, it is a good product and most people are happy with it. I didn't demand it be taken off the market for my experience alone. Hell, there are large groups of communities who complain about "post-tubal ligation syndrome" and demand that procedure be taken off the market. You can't please everyone, not everyone will be a happy customer.

If you are still interested, I suggest researching the science and history of surgical steel versus TRUE nickel allergy and not self diagnosis.

I'm very happy with my experience, my doctors are happy with it and so are their patients.

I just need to say to any woman who is thinking of being implanted with Essure, do your home work! I mean really research, when I was implanted in 2008 the information and web pages that are now available were not there when I was researching. If they had been I would not have even considered the Essure procedure.

I was implanted in 2008, my procedure went as my Dr said it would. I. Was up and back to my regular routine the same day, but what occurred later and the pain I deal with on a daily basis was not disclosed to me even as a possibility. In speaking with my implanting. Dr who no longer performs the Essure procedure because of complications woman were having, was also not told of long term pain. When her patients began having problems the Conceptus Reps were no where to be found. When inquiring how to remove the coils, conceptus gave vague responses. My Dr told me that the money they make doing implantations. Is huge, but the issues were out weighing its worth. She apologized to me several times for what I am going through, she is not the norm. Most Drs deny Essure is the cause for the problems woman are having. I've already. Had one small surgery and I'm in the process of testing to see how much more invasive the next surgery will need to be.. The Essure procedure is mon surgical but the after results are not

Some woman have good results and no adverse events, I don't know any of those woman. Please look at the FDA Maude reports regarding Essure adverse events. My dr reported 3 events herself to the FDA and conceptus.

So please do your homework!

Maria l

I just had my Essure placement yesterday. I am 28 years old and have no children. My husband and I have chosen not to have biological children due to health concerns of my own being passed to my children. I did thorough searching for a Dr. that was very familiar with the Essure placement. I chose one that was Essure certified from the Essure website and then searched the dr high and low for reviews on the internet to choose one that had no negative reviews from patients. Do your research people! Don't have a dr do this on you that has little or no experience. My doctor was awesome. I was treated with Valium and a pain shot before the procedure. Yes, it was pretty uncomfortable but not sharp pain. I felt some pretty severe cramping during and after the procedure. One day after the procedure (today) I feel slight cramping, but nothing to complain about. So far so good! I can't wait for three months to pass so I don't have to worry about a daily pill.

Essure done August 2012 confirmation test done right before thanksgiving total thumbs up from the x-ray tech & later from my GYN. The procedure went fairly smoothe way more uncomfortable then I expected but doable. (My female doc had done several, close to 100, procedures) I did spot not terrible but just enough to be annoying for a month & a half. The conformation test was worse with less pain meds (which I'm not a big fan of but hey when you need them you need them). First I was a man which I wasn't expecting. But it started the cramping up then the fullness feeling from the contrasting dye bothered me. 2 day's later after sex spotted / started a period. Totally freaked nobody told me spotting later was a possibility & since me having a period is not normal for me I thought maybe a combination of the x-ray and sex a few days later might have caused some issue called my doctor after hours number and my insurance company's nurse line was told if I'm not hemerging it not an emergency just spotting - which is "normal" - not! Normal for me!
A week later at the appointment where my dotor was supposed to read me my results she said oh yes that was probable just shedding lossened by the catherder and fluid.- uhm ok?
I was 28 with no children took 10 years to find / convince a doctor after many doctors that I was sure. I was sure I don't want children but fearful of the accual medical procedure to make it happen since I've never had any sergeries so I weighted towards the essure, since it is less invasive & no being but under.
So with me being super parinod I did a lot of research. I did come across some sites & blogs against essure but should have dug deeper. The few anti sites were definite anti-choice / women need to be protected from themselves which as most here I can guess understand why I totally disregarded them. The few blogs I read seemed overwhelming vague with multiple general symptoms of changes / differences between before & after the procedure which usually ment on to off various forms of brith control. So in didn't disregard but took into account my personal experience of:
the birth control roller coaster,
different health issues (chronic anxiety & depression that surprisingly has so many direct & indirect symptoms),
acute awareness to my ever changing body
and general concern of any major health issues that might be lerking under all the weird stuff or is it just a crazy accumulation of life itself?
Not so surprisingly I know most women have experienced the above with varing degrees so took the blogs seriously but not the gold standard / only possible outcome.

I consulted with 2 different doctors that would do the procedure that would do the procedure & 3 different NP that would not and where against it only because of the "you'll change your mind" none discussed accual negitave effects of the procedure. Turns out a lot of the issues that in many case can be major are this that are common with other sergical implants. To include allegic reaction that can include physical rejection. Metal allergies where your body because it is place so subcutaniously in/under a lot of soft tissue results in general no specific inflammation (that causes various random uncomfortable symptoms)
Bottom line 6 mths after I stand behind my decision for perminate solution. Generally satisfied with procedure & process but would recommend anyone considering to look at it as not just perminate(duh) as focused on by the medical professionals involved but as a semi- surgical procedure involving a "sergical implant" get a metal allergy test, consider the more invasive tubal litagation where they snip & cotterize (if you can make it happen) and take into cociseration what fixing / removing (NOT reversing) the procedure if you do have undesirable side effects, also get the metal alergy test(yes an extra step but much less then if you can't tollorate nickle) All learned in hindsite by me :-(
I'm not sure what's going on but it ain't good. Not aweful like for some but on my way in a few days to talk to the doc about allergy testing for the metals, why I can feel it during normal sex (not even wild sex / standard missionary in bed vs fun quicky sitting on top on the couch where we go at it but he isn't as deep), why it's cause spotting and the aggravation of other conditions (general systematic inflammation over tasking bodies ability to resond)
Worse case -
Might have to have the coils and tubes removed. Which FYI is possible without a full hisorectomy (unless scare tissue make impossible) as incorrectly informed by medical professional & still perminate serialization.
Best wishes to all hope this helps

I had essure procedure on feb 11, 2013. so far so good. i went back to work following day. i had lite spotting the same day of procedure but none the next day i had some cramping but took aleve and i was ok. my dr gave me a depo shot to cover me from getting pregnant during the 3 month time spand.i had no problem finding a essure provider . i did have a hard time trying to get a dr to tie my tubes which led me to essure.i hope in 3 months the dye test will be accurate and i will not able to ever have another baby

I too have been trying to get sterilized for several years. The doctors who refused caused much pain for my family. I am now 35, have three amazing adopted boys, and even a beautiful grandson. After my first 3 pregnancies failed, I started seeking permanent birth control. No doctor would do it because I had no children and was too young. At that point I guess I became infertile for 12 years. During that time we adopted our children, i earned two degrees...and developed bad health. I had suffered from diabetes since I was 12. In 2009 before we had a name for this terrible disease, I got pregnant again, but was already miscarrying when we found out. I tried to get tubal ligation then but an HSG showed my tubes were completely blocked and was told it would be impossible to get pregnant again. In 2010, I was diagnosed with gastroparesis which what was causing me to have constant severe pain and nausea. In 2011, after vomiting for 20 hours, I had a heart attack. With all my health problems, my fertility was out of my mind. January 2012, a week after my son's wedding and seeing my grandson on the ultrasound, a gastroparesis episode sent me to the ER....where I discovered I was pregnant AGAIN ....the 5th time. With all my health problems, I knew there was no chance to carry to term, but I still hoped. After losing that one, I was working hard to get fixed. My husband and I were ultra cautious. Because of my severe health, all of my doctors advised against using the pill. I had to go through all these test before I could get a tubal ligation. By May, I was pregnant again. To top it off, because I kept failing the stress test, my OB said tubal ligation was not an option. All the fighting I had done with my insurance company to get it approved and my stupid body hates me. My husband offered to get a vasectomy only to discover insurance won't cover it so we started saving money. My OB (who also delivered my grandson) felt Essure was my best option. My Medicare kicked in this January. He started working with a team to make sure we can avoid complications. . My Medicare plan covers the procedure 100%, so that means we can use the money we saved for something fun.This is really my only option. I am having my procedure in about 30 hours. After reading some of the problems, I'm really nervous. I know that I cannot handle another pregnancy, physically or emotionally. I think I can handle any other complication but that. I deal with severe pain and nausea on a daily basis. I've always had problems with my periods. I'm just going to say a little prayer and hope that just once, something medical will actually work out for me

My daughter (2nd child) was born 12/2008 - I had my procedure 06/2009 - quick, in office procedure local anesthetic and valium and pain meds - Unfortunately I suffer from muscle spasms pretty bad anyway (forgot to take muscle relaxer before procedure), the first tube started spazzing (painful!!!) so he stopped went to the other tube and waited for the spasm to subside - finished...the only reason I got sick - was too much pain med on empty stomach...nearly four years and couldn't be happier - no more birth control!!!!!! yaaaaay!!!!! Luckily my insurance pays "Outpatient" surgeries and surgical procedures @ 100%.....

Essure in ObamaCare ACA

FYI:
The Essure procedure and the Essure Confirmation Test (modified HSG) are included in the women’s preventive benefit coverage under the contraceptive services provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Starting on or after August 1, 2012, (depending on when a patient’s private health plan renews), many women will have access to the Essure Procedure without any out of pocket expense, deductibles or co-pays.

Accurately Verify ACA Coverage of Essure:

Since insurance plans vary, continue to verify patient benefits prior to the procedure by calling the number listed on the back of the insurance card.