Garofalo Obgyn

(PART 1)

Lately I’ve been getting a lot of questions from my patients about the Essure birth control procedure. Maybe it’s because of the recent publicity from Olympic gold medalist Picabo Street, who announced earlier this year that she’d undergone the procedure. In any case, I thought I’d answer some of the most common questions I’ve heard. I’ve also included some useful links at the bottom of this blog.

What is Essure?

The Essure procedure is a permanent birth control method developed by an American company called Conceptus. Essure is their main product.

During the procedure, tiny flexible coils made out of polyester fibers, nickel-titanium and stainless steel are passed by a small tube called a catheter from the vagina through the cervix and uterus and into the Fallopian tubes. (Fallopian tubes are two very thin tubes that lead from the ovaries into the uterus.) Once in place, the Essure coils cause tissue growth (scarring), which seals a portion of the Fallopian tubes. This tissue barrier prevents sperm from reaching the ovaries.

How long has the Essure procedure been used?

Hundreds of thousands of women have had the Essure procedure, which was approved for use in the United States in 2002. I’ve been conducting Essure procedures for several years.

While the Essure procedure is relatively new, Essure coils 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.

Is the Essure procedure permanent?

According to the manufacturer, the Essure procedure is intended to be permanent and non-reversible. However, as of last month, less than two dozen successful Essure reversals have been performed – all in the past three years – and the first “Essure reversal baby” was born just a few months ago.

Before having the Essure procedure, you should be sure that you do not want to have any more children.

Is the Essure procedure right for me?

Most women are candidates for the Essure method, but sometimes the coils cannot be placed due to issues such as prior tubal blockage, fibroids distorting the uterine cavity, or uterine septum (when a wall of tissue divides part or all of the uterus). In addition, the Essure procedure is not recommended for women who:

• are pregnant or have been pregnant in the past six weeks
• are not certain they are finished having children
• have had a recent infection in the pelvis
• have serious, chronic health problems
• are allergic to contrast dye or nickel
• are taking corticosteroids (a type of anti-inflammatory drug)

If you’ve had any of these conditions, we can discuss whether Essure is appropriate for you.

Tune in next week …

In my next blog I’ll write about the Essure procedure’s risks and benefits, and how it compares to another procedure, called tubal ligation – or “getting your tubes tied”.

More information

If you’d like additional information, you can click on any of the links below, or you can contact my office directly.

Links to Essure resources

Essure’s home page
Essure patient and physician testimonials
Essure patient information booklet pdf
Essure confirmation test booklet pdf
Dr. Garofalo’s webpage on permanent birth control and Essure
Dr. Garofalo’s Essure consent form pdf

Dr. John Garofalo, M.D., is gynecologist located in Fairfield County, Connecticut including Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Westport and Danbury. For more information on Dr. Garofalo and his medical practice, go to www.garofaloobyn.com. Dr. Garofalo can be reached for a personal consultation at 203.803.1098.