| The Essure sterilization procedure is a procedure for | | | | preventing pregnancy. |
| achieving permanent birth control using a non-incisional | | | | The Essure procedure is done on an outpatient basis |
| surgical approach. The Essure procedure involves | | | | using local anesthetic and/or intravenous sedation, |
| placing micro-inserts via hysteroscopic guided | | | | and it requires no incisions and usually takes |
| catheters into each of the fallopian tubes vaginally | | | | approximately 35 minutes to complete. Most patients |
| through the cervix and uterus. The micro inserts are | | | | are able to go home within an hour of the procedure. |
| made from polyethylene terephathalate (PET) fibers | | | | Typical temporary effects are cramps, a discharge |
| and a nickel titanium alloy, similar to other devices and | | | | like a light menstrual flow or spotting, mild nausea or |
| technology that have been studied and used safely in | | | | vomiting, and light-headedness. Usually the strongest |
| the heart and neurosurgical procedures. Once the | | | | pain medication required after the procedure by most |
| micro inserts are in place, over a three-month period, | | | | women is ibuprofen. Most women who have the |
| benign tissue growth is elicited into the micro inserts, | | | | procedure done can return to regular activities within |
| effectively blocking the fallopian tubes, thereby | | | | one to two days. |