Are You a Good Candidate for Essure?

Previously, women who desired a permanent, irreversible method of birth control considered having a tubal ligation, which is a surgical procedure. However, OBGYN doctors can now perform a non-surgical procedure for permanent birth control, known as Essure. Essure involves the placement of special coils into both of the fallopian tubes. Over the next few months, scar tissue develops around the coils, which blocks the fallopian tubes and prevents egg fertilization. If you’re considering having Essure in Houston, talk to your gynecologist to find out if you’re a good candidate.

Are You Confident in Your Family-Planning Decisions?

One of the most important considerations when assessing whether Essure is right for you is to evaluate your confidence in your decision to have permanent, irreversible birth control. If you’re unsure of whether you wish to have more children in the future or whether you prefer not to have children at all, you can share these concerns with your gynecologist. Unless you are absolutely certain that permanent birth control is right for you, you may wish to consider another birth control method for the time being. You can always decide to have Essure later on.

Are You Looking for an Alternative to Hormonal Birth Control?

For many women, Essure offers much more than the freedom and confidence that comes from knowing that an unwanted pregnancy will not occur. It also offers an alternative to hormonal birth control methods, such as the pill, injection, patch, and implant. Long-term use of hormonal birth control raises some safety concerns, such as its possible association with certain cancers and its link to side effects like blood clots. If the possible risks of hormonal birth control trouble you, then Essure might be a good alternative for you.

Have You Discussed Your Medical Conditions?

Not everyone is a good candidate for Essure. Be sure to tell your gynecologist about all of your medical conditions, including whether you have only one fallopian tube and whether you’ve previously undergone tubal ligation. Essure is contraindicated for use by patients with allergies to contrast dye and sensitivities to nickel. Additionally, if you have a pelvic infection or you had one recently, you may need to wait before having Essure. Essure may not be appropriate for patients taking systemic corticosteroids.