When Bayer first promoted Essure, it was touted as a permanent and non-hormonal type of birth control that would prevent women from getting pregnant. The reality for many women, however, has been very different, with scores reporting major issues after having the device implanted.
The option of Essure removal has become a very real choice that patients must make, especially when they hear about all the issues that others have suffered from. And some may be experiencing pain and other complications themselves.
Continue reading to learn more about removal of the device or see our lawsuit page if you feel you were harmed by Essure and you are seeking compensation.
What is Essure?
Essure is a permanent birth control system that is offered by Bayer. The system was reviewed by the FDA and approved in 2002. Bayer has continuously defended Essure, despite the scores of side effects and negative stories.
They claim the procedure is 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy, while the clear majority of women do not experience any issues following the procedure to implant the device – in the short or long-term.
How Does the Procedure Work?
The procedure to implant the Essure device is very straightforward – at least in theory.
The patient is put through local anesthesia, while a doctor will insert two metal and fiber micro-coil inserts into their fallopian tubes. These inserts are meant to attach to the tubes, and eventually block them.
It takes a full three months for the necessary scar tissue to develop, which completely blocks off the fallopian tubes. The result is that sperm cannot connect with the eggs in a woman’s body. Therefore, pregnancy is no longer a possibility.
There are some non-medical reasons why a woman may want to have the procedure reversed. They may have changed their mind about having children, or they may have gotten remarried.
Perhaps they are not in the same emotional or physical place they were when the procedure was performed. However, the clear majority of women who do want Essure reversed are not doing it for those reasons.
Damaging Side Effects of Essure
The overwhelming reason why so many women are seeking to reverse the Essure procedure is the serious side effects they are experiencing including:
- Serious pain
- Bloating in the abdomen or stomach
- Headaches that are like a migraine
- Fatigue
- Hives or rashes
- Fallopian tube perforations
- Bleeding
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Abnormally heavy periods
- Infections
Are you a Candidate for Essure Removal?
If you are experiencing one or some of these side effects since you went through with the Essure procedure, you may be thinking about removal.
The best thing to do is speak with a qualified physician who has removed this device on other patients. Not only will they have the experience to successfully remove the inserts from your fallopian tubes, but they can also diagnose your condition appropriately.
A physician will see a patient, speak about the side effects they are experiencing, and attempt to determine whether it is Essure that is causing these issues.
If they determine the inserts are the problem, a surgical procedure is necessary to remove them. When the coils are removed, relief is often instant and permanent.
Most women will be fully recovered within two weeks of the procedure, and they can go about their lives normally.
Essure Removal Procedures
There are a few surgical options for Essure removal. Salpingostomy is one of the most popular options, where surgeons will cut a hole in your fallopian tubes to remove the Essure coils. A salpingectomy is also an option, where the fallopian tubes are removed entirely.
A surgeon will typically determine what procedure to perform, because it depends on the condition of the patent and where the device is currently positioned in the patient’s body.
Some women need to go through two surgeries so the inserts are completely removed from their body. The process can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000, depending on the procedure you go through and any possible complications.
Information on Essure Lawsuits
Despite the FDA’s approval of Essure in 2002, it does not appear that the long-term consequences of the device were fully studied or understood.
From 2002 to 2009, most studies showed that Essure was not causing any harmful side effects, and that it was almost always a successful and painless procedure.
Patients began to come forward with their horror stories related to Essure around 2009. Bayer stood firm with regards to the safety of the device, but the pressure kept building up.
Many patients decided to go down the route of a lawsuit. These suits are still ongoing, such as the one filed in California that will be heard by the Alameda County Superior Court in 2017.
The FDA has published new warnings on Essure and is conducting more studies. The United States Congress also held hearings on the matter, and a bill to hold Bayer completely responsible for all the issues related to Essure was introduced in 2015.
If you went through painful side effects, and you are now considering removal, you may also want to talk to your attorney about the possibility of joining in with a lawsuit against Bayer.