A common complaint from women today is they are done having children and they no longer want to take birth control pills. For women who have completed their families and want reliable permanent birth control there is a simple, safe and effective alternative that is now available in your doctor’s office. The Essure™ procedure has been trusted by hundreds of thousands of women and their doctors for more than five years. It takes less than ten minutes and the procedure is 99.8% effective, making it the most effective method of permanent birth control available. It is the only birth control method with zero pregnancies in clinical trials. 

During the Essure procedure, the doctor places small, soft, flexible inserts into the fallopian tubes. Because there is no cutting or anesthesia required, the procedure can be performed safely and comfortably in the office. It does not feel much different than a pap smear for many women. The recovery time is quick too, usually patients can return to normal activities the same day. There is no need to take time off of work or worry about covering your family obligations while they recover. During the three months following the procedure, your body and the inserts work together to form a natural barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg. During this period, patients must continue using another form of birth control. After that three months, it’s time to get a confirmation test to verify you’re protected from the worries of unplanned pregnancy. The test, called a Histosalpingogram, uses a dye and a special type of x-ray to ensure both that the inserts are in place and that the fallopian tubes are completely blocked.

The Essure procedure is covered by most insurance plans and your payment may be as low as a simple co-pay. Since many women pay $30 to $50 per month for pills, this could mean a savings of $500 or more per year. With the ability to perform the procedure in your doctor’s office, there are also no surgical copays or expenses that are associated with other types of sterilization that needs to be completed in a surgical setting, such as a vasectomy (male sterilization). With Essure, patients never have to worry about unplanned pregnancy again. Essure is the most effective form of permanent birth control available today, more effective than the pill and even vasectomy. In addition, this procedure avoids the risks, discomfort and recovery of surgical procedures like vasectomy. Patients need to understand that the Essure procedure is permanent and is NOT reversible. Therefore, you should be sure you do not want children in the future. 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. If you are interested in more information about the Essure permanent birth control procedure or to learn whether it may be right for you, please contact your doctor for an appointment.

Dr. Brian Nelson is a board certified obstetrician/gynecologist at Longmont Clinic. He can be reached at 720.494.3130. Dr. Nelson joined Longmont Clinic in September 2001.