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Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Hysteroscopic Sterilization (Essure)
Hysteroscopic sterilization is the newest method of sterilization. This procedure is often called the Essure procedure. Unlike most types of sterilization procedures, a hysteroscopic procedure does not require us to make a surgical incision in your abdomen. This procedure can be performed in our medical offices without a trip to the operating room.
During the procedure, we use an instrument called a hysteroscope to observe the inside of the uterus. The hysteroscope is long and thin, so we're able to gently insert it into your uterus through your cervix. Once we look inside the uterus, we then insert small metal coils into each fallopian tube. Over time, scar tissue grows around these coils to completely block the fallopian tubes. An X-ray dye test after your procedure will confirm that your fallopian tubes have been completely blocked.
Risk of pregnancy
This is a very effective method of birth control. The risk of pregnancy after you have a hysteroscopic sterilization is less than 1 percent.
Advantages
- It is a very effective method of birth control.
- There are no incisions and no bandages.
- We do give you a sedative before we start the procedure, but we can talk to you throughout the entire process.
- Your recovery afterwards is faster than with other procedures.
Disadvantages
- It takes three months for scar tissue to form in the tubes so that your tubes become blocked. During that period of time you will need to use another method of birth control.
- You have to come back and have an X-ray dye test to make sure the tubes are blocked completely before you stop using your back-up method of birth control.
- A small percent of the time the coils cannot be placed or do not block the tubes. We need to verify that the tubes are blocked completely.
- It is not reversible. If you change your mind and want to become pregnant, we will not be able to undo the procedure.
Related Health Tools:
Prepare for Your Procedure
- Anesthesia for an Adult (Emmi) Anesthesia for an Adult (Emmi)
- Permanent Birth Control: Micro-Inserts (Emmi) Permanent Birth Control: Micro-Inserts (Emmi)
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.