What is Essure?
Essure is a permanent birth control method that works with your body to prevent pregnancy. The Essure procedure offers women benefits that no other permanent birth control can.
- Surgery-free—A simple procedure performed in your doctor’s office in less than 10 minutes
- Hormone-free—A more natural birth control method
- Worry-free—Since 2002 over half a million women and their doctors have trusted Essure as the most effective permanent birth control
There’s no slowing down to recover, and most women return to normal activities in less than a day.
What makes Essure the most effective?
Shape: The small, soft Essure inserts are designed to slide easily into each fallopian tube.
Size: The Essure inserts stay secure, forming a long protective barrier against pregnancy. They also remain visible outside your tubes, so your doctor can confirm that they’re properly in place.
Material: The Essure inserts are made from the same trusted, silicone-free material used in heart stents. The material is flexible, so it conforms to the shape of your fallopian tubes.
Essure in three simple steps
- The procedure: An Essure-certified doctor places a soft, flexible insert into each of your fallopian tubes through the natural pathways of your vagina and cervix. There is no incision necessary. The tip of each insert remains visible to your doctor, so proper placement can be confirmed.
- The barrier: Over the next three months, your body works with the Essure inserts to form a natural barrier against pregnancy. This barrier prevents sperm from reaching your eggs, so pregnancy cannot occur. You must continue to use another form of birth control during this three-month period.
- The confirmation: After three months you’ll have an Essure Confirmation Test. A special dye is introduced into your uterus and viewed on an x-ray so your doctor can confirm that the inserts are in place and your fallopian tubes are fully blocked. Once you receive verification from your doctor, you can start relying on Essure for birth control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trust the Essure Procedure?
Yes, Essure is 99.8 percent effective based on four years of clinical data. That’s higher than any other permanent birth control.
Is the procedure painful?
Generally, no. Some women report mild discomfort or cramping during or after the procedure, similar to what they feel during their normal monthly cycle.
How long is the recovery?
Most women go home within 45 minutes of the Essure procedure and return to normal activities in less than a day.
Will I still have a period?
Yes, Some women report slightly lighter or heavier bleeding than usual, but these changes might be the result of discontinuing hormone-based birth control and returning to your normal cycle.
Is Essure covered by my insurance?
Essure is covered by most insurance providers. When the Essure procedure is performed in a doctor’s office, the cost may be as low as a co-pay, depending on your plan.
Is Essure easily reversible?
No. Like all permanent birth control, Essure should not be considered reversible. Before choosing Essure, you should be sure your family is complete.
Is Essure Safe?
Essure eliminates the risks, discomfort and recovery time associated with surgical procedures like tubal ligation and vasectomy. The silicone-free Essure inserts are made from the same safe, trusted material used in many other medical devices, including heart stents.
