Many women still of childbearing age but having completed their families opt for permanent birth control. In the past, many women chose tubal ligation, or having their “tubes tied.” But tubal ligation is an invasive surgery with recover time.

Essure, the only form of non-invasive, permanent implantable birth control, became a viable option for thousands of women in the United States and around the world. However, the implantable birth control option Essure has become a source of severe complications and problems for many women.

Implantable Birth Control: Essure

Essure was first introduced as an advancement in birth control, and was marketed as the only non-surgical form of implantable birth control. At the time, the only other option for permanent birth control for women was tubal ligation. It was approved in 2002 by the FDA through a fast track approval process.

Tubal ligation increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy, is surgically invasive, costs a lot, and takes between one and three weeks from which to recover. Essure was touted as a much easier way to reap the benefits of permanent sterilization.

Like tubal ligation, the implantable birth control Essure also disrupts the ability of the egg to travel from the ovary to the become fertilized by the sperm, thus preventing pregnancy. However, while tubal ligation is a laparoscopic surgery requiring two incisions in the abdomen that severs the fallopian tubes, the Essure procedure is done through the vagina and performed in a doctor’s office.

Implantable birth control Essure is made up of two flexible metal coils. An Essure coil is placed in each fallopian tube. This coil blocks the fallopian tube and creates scar tissue around the device. After about three months, when scar tissue has build up, the fallopian tube is blocked and the egg cannot travel to be fertilized with the sperm.

This may seem like a viable alternative to tubal ligation, however, scores of women have reported severe complications with Essure.

Essure Complications

Essure has been associated with many alarming complications including bloating and rashes, allergic reactions, excessive bleeding, organ perforation, pelvic pain and pain with intercourse, miscarriage and even ectopic pregnancy.

Since 2002, thousands of adverse event reports have been filed by American women claiming they suffered greatly because of the implantable birth control Essure.

These after-insertion complications often surpass issues like bloating and skin rashes. Some women have reported serious side effects such as device fracture, device migration, organ perforation and the need for device removal or even hysterectomy.

Some women even report complications during the insertion of the implantable birth control Essure. These problems include pain requiring local anesthesia, perforation of the Fallopian tubes or uterus requiring additional surgery and device breakage during insertion.

The FDA reported that between 2002 and 2017, it received nearly 27,000 adverse event reports. These reports included the following:

• abdominal pain
• heavy or irregular bleeding during periods
• headache
• fatigue
• weight fluctuations
• nickel allergy
• device migration
• pregnancy
• dislodged device
• broken device
• pregnancy loss (ectopic pregnancy included)
• death

If you or someone you love has had the implantable birth control device Essure and have suffered extreme complications, you may be eligible for legal compensation.