Atlanta, GASince Jessie had Essure contraceptive coils surgically implanted, she has suffered Essure side effects, including pain and heavy bleeding. Now she is practically begging her doctor for a hysterectomy to have it removed.
There are alternatives. Essure can be removed by tubal reversal surgery, if you can afford about $7,000 and if you can find a qualified surgeon, hopefully within close proximity. Or there is robotic surgery, but the jury is still out regarding its safety. There is an ongoing discussion online with a plastic surgeon about the daVinci and laparoscopic morcellator. Apparently the robotic arm can tug, tease or retract on the coil, which increases the risk of fragmentation and the spread of PET fibers into the pelvis. And a vaginal hysterectomy makes it difficult to reach the entire fallopian tubes, so part of the tube and Essure coil can be left behind. It is unlikely that health care providers tell women beforehand that they may require a complete hysterectomy to remove the Essure coils should anything go sideways.
The Essure coil was approved by the FDA in 2002. Since that time there have been far too many adverse event reports. About 17,000 women in the United States who have had Essure implanted have complained that it has hurt them, according to Reuters (September 22, 2015). Essure side effects typically involve pelvic pressure and pain, uterine cramping, and abnormally heavy bleeding. Some women have reported aching joints and fatigue, skin rashes (allergy to nickel in the coil?), and decreased libido. According to Medwatcher, two suicides have been linked to Essure. And there is a lot of regret.
In an e-mail, Stacy says she became allergic to the nickel in the metal coils shortly after having the Essure sterilization procedure. She had a complete hysterectomy to remove the coils. For a young woman to undergo a complete hysterectomy, however, the results can be devastating. When the ovaries are removed, a woman can no longer produce estrogen and that can lead to a number of complications. A hysterectomy will typically cause a normal 30-year-old woman to become post-menopausal in just a few weeks, which can lead to loss of libido, painful sexual intercourse, increased risk of heart disease and stroke, and osteoporosis. While Essure doesn’t stop a woman from producing estrogen, it may be a more dangerous choice than a hysterectomy. Worse, it can cause life-threatening complications.
Angela (not her real name) thinks the Essure coil has caused a “hole in my uterus.” Due to a heart condition, the birth control pill is not an option and she didn’t want to chance an IUD or condom, but now she is regretting her decision. “My gynecologist has confirmed that indeed there is a hole, but she won’t say if it is her fault or that something is wrong with the device,” says Angela. “I’m a single mother and the last thing I want is a complete hysterectomy. I’m only 25 years old and maybe some years from now I might want another child, but that might not be an option now. I wish I had been properly informed when I made the decision to have this Essure, such as how difficult it is to remove. I don’t advise any woman to get it - easier to opt for a hysterectomy..."
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