What is Essure?
Essure is a proven permanent birth control procedure that works with your body to create a natural barrier against pregnancy. Unlike some forms of birth control, Essure blocks the egg and sperm from meeting, so conception never occurs.
Essure has been trusted by hundreds of thousands of women and their doctors for over five years and is one of the most effective forms of permanent birth control available. Essure is covered by most insurance providers. Due to the many various PPOs we recommend contacting your specific provider to confirm that this is a covered benefit.
Essure Offers women what no other birth control ever has:
- No hormones
- No slowing down to recover
- Short 10-minute procedure time
- Peace of mind - your doctor can confirm when you can rely on Essure for birth control
- The most effective form of permanent birth control available
- Trusted by hundreds of thousands of women and their doctors for more than five years
...And with Essure, you'll never have to worry about unplanned pregnancy again. Essure is 99.74% effective with zero pregnancies over the last five years, making it one of the most effective forms of permanent birth control available.
Here's how Essure compares:
| Essure | Tubal Ligation | Vasectomy | IUD | Pill | |
| Hormone-free |  |
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| Incision-free | |
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| No hospital visit necessary | |
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| Permanent | |
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| Doesn't require general anesthesia | |
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| Rapid recovery (in 1-2 days or sooner) | |
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| Confirmation Test | |
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| Failure Rates** | .05% (1 year) .26% (5 years) |
.55% (1 year) 1.15% (4 years) |
.74% (1 year) 1.13% (5 years) |
.2% | .8% |
| * Some IUDs comtain hormones while others don't | |||||
| ** Based on 5 years of clinical data | |||||
How does Essure work?
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An Essure-certified doctor places soft, flexible inserts into the fallopian tubes. No incision is needed because these tiny inserts are delivered through the vagina and cervix. The tip of the insert remains outside the tube, which provides you and your doctor with immediate visual confirmation of placement. |
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Over the next three months, a natural barrier forms around the inserts and prevents sperms from reaching the eggs. The ovaries will continue to release eggs, but they will be absorbed back into the body. |
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After three months, it’s time to get an Essure Confirmation Test to verify you’re protected from the worries of unplanned pregnancy. The test uses a dye and special type of x-ray to ensure both that the inserts are in place and that the fallopian tubes are completely blocked. Until that time, you must continue using another form of birth control. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trust the Essure procedure?
The Essure procedure is the most effective form of permanent birth control available. Essure is 99.74% effective with zero pregnancies based on 5 years of follow-up.
Is the Essure procedure new?
The Essure procedure was FDA approved in 2002 and is trusted by hundreds of thousands of women and doctors worldwide.
How do women rate the procedure?
In clinical testing involving about 700 women, almost all women rated their comfort with the Essure procedure as “good” to “excellent” within one week. After the first week, almost all women rated their satisfaction with the Essure procedure as “good” to “excellent.”
Is the procedure painful?
Generally, no. Some women report mild discomfort or cramping, similar to a normal monthly cycle during or after the procedure.
What are the inserts made of?
The inserts are made from materials that have been used in the heart and other areas of the human body (e.g., heart valve replacements, blood vessel grafts, and abdominal repair) for many years. The inserts do not contain silicone.
Do the inserts contain nickel?
There is a very, very small amount of nickel in the Essure insert; in fact, the amount released from the inserts on a daily basis is only 0.14µg/day, which is 1000x less than the amount of nickel that is consumed during the daily food intake. In the Essure clinical trials, no adverse reactions to nickel were reported. If you have questions about a possible nickel allergy, speak with your doctor.
Is it reversible?
The procedure is permanent and cannot be reversed. It is only meant to be used by women who are sure their family is complete.
Reversal may require surgery and there is no data on the safety and effectiveness of reversal.
Is Essure safe?
Yes, Essure has been trusted by hundreds of thousands of women and doctors for over five years. The Essure procedure avoids the risks and discomfort of surgical procedures like tubal ligation and vasectomy. Additionally, the silicone-free inserts 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.
How long does the procedure take?
In clinical testing, the average time to place an insert into both fallopian tubes was less than 10 minutes and the total procedure time was about 35 minutes.
When does it start working?
During the first 3 months following the procedure, your body and the inserts work together to form a natural barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg. You will need to use another form of birth control during this time. After 3 months, your doctor will perform an Essure Confirmation Test to confirm both that the inserts have been correctly placed and that your tubes are completely blocked so you can rely on the Essure inserts for birth control.
How long before I can resume regular physical activities?
In the Essure Pivotal Trial, women were typically able to leave the facility within 45 minutes after the procedure and almost all working women resumed work in 24 hours or less after the day of the procedure. Most women returned to normal activities the same day as the procedure.
Is Essure covered by my insurance?
The Essure procedure is covered by most health insurance. Please check with your carrier to see if this is a covered benefit.
Considerations
- Essure is permanent and not reversible
- No form of birth control should be considered 100% effective
- Not all women who undergo the Essure procedure will achieve successful placement of both inserts
Essure is for women whose families are complete. Like all permanent birth control procedures, Essure is only right for you if you do not want to have additional children and are not currently pregnant. Essure is also not suitable for women who have had a tubal ligation or cannot have an insert placed in each fallopian tube. You must be willing to have the Essure Confirmation Test. Talk to your doctor if you have a known allergy to contrast dye (dye used during x-rays) or have a sensitivity to nickel, as shown by a skin test.
As with all medical procedures, there are risks associated with the Essure procedure. Risks during or immediately after the procedure may include mild to moderate cramping, nausea/vomiting, dizziness/light-headedness, and bleeding/spotting. You can find a complete list of considerations at essure.com.
Embrace the next stage of your life with confidence. With the Essure procedure, you never have to worry about unplanned pregnancy again!