essure/tubal/depo?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2004
essure/tubal/depo?
3
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 3:47pm
Hello again - I am still having heavy bleeding problems after being on Depo for almost a year. I am considering permanent birth control. I really do not think my body responds well to any hormonal birth control methods. I am almost 40 & we are done having children - so that is not an issue. I have been doing alot of research & essure seems like the best alternative for me. I was wondering if anyone had any negative side effects from the essure procedure. I read that if you are sensitive to nickel that essure may be a problem. I cannot wear "cheap" earrings because they always infect my ears - someone told me this is because I am allergic to nickel. Does this mean I am not a good candidate for essure? Anyone else heard of this? If I cannot get the essure procedure - anyone have any suggestions for other non-hormonal birth control?

Thanks!

Julie

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 7:04pm
Hi Julie Welcome back!,

Essure should not be inserted if a patient has a “known hypersensitivity to nickel confirmed by skin test.” For more about how to determine if you fall in that category you should contact an Essure qualified physician in your area. You can find Essure qualified physicians by calling the Essure information center at: 877-377-8731.

You probably already know this, but be sure to read the Risks section of the Patient Information Booklet because: 1) The placing the coils can be tricky and there can be some women who have the coils placed who will not be able to use them for contraception and. 2) Once placed the coils could interfere with certain future operations or procedures.

From the FDA safety and effectiveness information: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/pdf2/p020014.html

The EssureSystem should not be used for

“any patient with any of the following conditions:

- pregnancy or suspected pregnancy;

- delivery or termination of a pregnancy less than 6 weeks before Essure™ micro- insert placement;

- active or recent upper or lower pelvic infection;

- known allergy to contrast media ; and

- known hypersensitivity to nickel confirmed by skin test. (See Warnings section in

labeling regarding suspected hypersensitivity to nickel.)”

U.S FDA Essure approval information: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/mda/docs/p020014.html

Essure Patient Information Booklet: http://www.essure.com/Patient_Information_Booklet.pdf

Let us know what you decide, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 10:36am
Hi Julie!

If essure is not right for you and a tubal ligation isnt the route you want to take(I can understand that!), how about an IUD? They last anywhere from 5-10 years. Check out the FAQ. There is great information about IUDs there. Just to let you know, I am 39 and my husband had a vasectomy. I dont know if this is something you could consider, but I will tell you we are both glad that is the route we went. The procedure went so smooth without a single problem! If you would like to know more just let me know.

Best of luck on your decison!

Josie

Avatar for mahopac
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-1997
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 3:52pm
My gyn does not perform essure because she feels there isn't enough data on the possible side effects. She did a TL on me, which has worked extremely well. Like you, I was 40yo and done having kids. I had been using Natural Family Planning, which is effective, but I didn't want to do it for another 15 years until menopause. I've been very happy with the TL, the side effects were only the immediate ones from the surgery, and there has been no change in my periods in the 15 months since I had it done.

I would not recommend the IUD or anything else that prevents implantation of a fertilized egg as its primary or secondary method of action, if you believe life begins at conception. There are other nonhormonal ways to prevent sperm and egg from meeting, including the diaphragm and NFP and probably some others that I'm too old to have experimented with. ;)

Kelly