Most families come to a point in their lives when they feel they are done having children and need to not only consider the types of birth control methods available but also how they fit within their lifestyle. Certain permanent solutions, such as vasectomies may not offer the most reliable form of contraception. Tubal ligations have unacceptable failure rates and potential for side effects related to surgery.

Less permanent options include forms of hormonal contraception (oral contraceptive, patch, ring, or an IUD). While the pill and its counterparts can be a perfectly good solution for some, many do not want to remain on hormones throughout their 30s and 40s due to blood pressure, heart disease or lifestyle concerns (such as smoking or obesity). Women say they want to feel liberated and free of the constraints of an unplanned pregnancy. Even though fertility does decline in a woman's late 30s and 40, nearly half of the pregnancies in women over the age of 40 are accidental. Having to remember birth control is cumbersome and may even be a “mood changer.”

When one of our patient advises us they are done having children, we recommend a new and widely available non-surgical method of permanent birth control called “Essure.” Essure is quickly becoming the “gold standard” of permanent contraception and revolutionizing the field of women’s healthcare, as it can be performed in a gynecologist’s office in a matter of minutes.

The Essure procedure uses small inserts to block the fallopian tubes, without cutting or burning. During the procedure, which lasts an average of a few minutes, the fallopian tubes are accessed through the cervix and soft, flexible inserts are placed in each tube. Within three months, the body forms a natural barrier around the inserts preventing sperm from reaching the egg, so conception will never occur. A confirmation test is conducted to guarantee that the procedure was successful.

One of the greatest advantages of Essure over other permanent procedures is the quick recovery time. Normally, a woman can resume her regular activities in less than a day, with little or no discomfort. Essure is covered by most health insurance plans and when performed in a physician’s office the cost for the procedure can be as low as a simple co-pay.

Our practice is passionate about Essure, not only because of its safety and reliability, but also because our patients are very satisfied with the outcome. Women don’t feel as if they had a surgical procedure and can return to the routine of their work and/or home without the down time associated with more invasive types of surgery.