Essure Birth Control Placement
Essure is a type of permanent birth control that is placed non-surgically in a doctor’s office. The actual procedure takes about 10 minutes and patients typically leave the doctor’s office 45 minutes after the procedure. The Essure coil inserts are placed through the natural pathways of the vagina and cervix, so no incisions are needed.
Essure works with the body to create a natural barrier against pregnancy. The procedure involves permanently placing a soft, flexible insert into each Fallopian tube. The insert consists of polyester fibers, nickel-titanium alloy and stainless steel. The Essure inserts do not contain hormones.
Over a period of about 3 months, a natural barrier forms around the Essure inserts, which prevent sperm from reaching the eggs. Three months after the Essure procedure, the doctor who performed the Essure insertion will test to confirm that the inserts are in the correct location, and depending on the type of test, may also verify whether the tubes are successfully blocked. The Essure Confirmation Test can be a trans-vaginal ultrasound (TVU), an x-ray exam using a special contrast dye in the uterus, or both.