Safe Birth Control Methods and Myths: Essure

Essure, female sterilization, is supposedly one of the safest ways to prevent unwanted pregnancy. It has a very low failure rate, 0,26. It means that out of 384 women, only one has become pregnant when using this method. However, do consider that researchers of Yale University claim that its failure rate is much higher than that. Before you make your decision, consult with your gynecologist!

Essure is a surgical procedure, performed by a doctor. It is a permanent birth control method, it is irreversible, you only have to undergo a surgery only once in your life. Essure surgery has been available for United States citizens since 2002, when the Food and Drug Administration approved this method. Probably you want to know that Essure is affordable, it is less expensive than laparoscopic bilateral tubal ligation.

The surgery takes only ten minutes. You just go to a physician’s office and undergo the surgery, you do not have to undergo anesthesia. Do ask for some kind of analgesia though, otherwise your surgery will be extremely painful.

During the process, your physician will place tiny, thin, flexible inserts into both of your fallopian tubes, using a catheter through your vaginal canal, cervix, and uterus. The inserts will prevent unwanted pregnancy, since they contain polyethylene terephthalate fibers, they cause inflammation that leads to fibrotic reaction. The small device is held in place by a stainless steel inner coil and a nickel titanium alloy coil. It will induce tissue growth in and around the insert within three months, blocking the fallopian tubes. The forming tissue will prevent sperm from getting into the fallopian tube and reaching the egg. Naturally, for three months, you have to use some other form of birth control.

Three months after your surgery, a doctor should perform an x-ray procedure on you, hysterosalpingogram, to see whether the inserts fully blocked your fallopian tubes. The physician injects a contrast agent (a dye) through your cervix. If the doctor cannot detect any contrast agent leaking at the Essure coils, your surgery is considered safe.

According to Yale University scientists, Essure is not a very safe birth control method. It also has some risks: failure to place both inserts during the first procedure, expulsion, or perforation of your tissues.

Essure may cause serious side-effects like intense pain, bleeding, changes in your period, nausea, allergic reactions to the inserts and its materials as well as allergic response to different allergens, rashes, a weakened immune system, weight gain, mood swings, hair loss. Plenty of Essure patients, named E-sisters, speak up on social media sites about their painful history with Essure.

Consider these possible side-effects before you decide to choose Essure.

Sterilization – A Basic Guide

Sterilization of men and women is a very efficient and permanent method of birth control. It is recommended for people above the age of 35 or for people that are suffering from certain diseases which justifies sterilization. The decision of taking such action requires quiet and detailed thinking, no matter if we are talking about male or female sterilization.

Sterilization is a procedure that is usually chosen by women when they no longer want children. This procedure can have very different consequences. First of all, such a procedure is accompanied by considerable mental confusion and on the other hand many people consider that such intervention can lead to better sex because of the fact that people are no longer afraid of conceiving a baby.

Sterilization in women  

This procedure in women requires cutting the fallopian tubes which leads to prevention of egg travelling from the ovary to the uterus. Sterilization in women is much more complicated procedure, which is performed with the use of complete anesthesia and after the procedure is finished the women has to stay in the hospital for at least two days. Most women that choose sterilization have previously used all possible methods of birth control and this is their last option.

There are certain medical indications which leave some women without any other choice than having sterilization. This is the case in women that have high blood pressure or severe heart conditions. In these cases the procedure should be finished as soon as possible. For example, it should be performed at the same time with the abortion. In the past sterilization was medically indicated after the second cesarean section in order to avoid 3^rd one. Today’s medical supplies are much better and the scars are stronger, more acceptable and more resilient.

Sterilization in men – vasectomy

Vasectomy is a small surgical procedure in order to sterilize men. With this procedure vas deferens from the both sides are cut off, tourniquet or partially removed. The whole procedure lasts for around 20 minutes and it can be performed with local anesthesia. It is much easier for men to go through this procedure.

Side effects are something really uncommon in cases of vasectomy. Vasectomy can slightly increase the risk of prostate cancer occurrence. The chances of development of prostate cancer increase as the time of the surgery passes. The most common side effect after vasectomy procedure is bleeding. In case a large hematoma appears it is recommended to take a rest and use analgesics.

      

In many countries sterilization is a process that requires special permissions from various professional organizations. In the past sterilization was considered to be a final and irreversible method of birth control but the fact is that today there are many biomedical products that can allow people who are sterilized to conceive again. It is possible to take sperm directly from the testicles and fertilize female eggs.

Finally, keep in mind that sterilization is an excellent protection when it comes to birth control but not when it comes to sexually transmitted diseases.