Essure Birth Control Device Leads to Hysterectomy

Columbus, GAEmily welcomes this opportunity to warn women not to choose Essure as a birth control method. “I've had nothing but problems since having this Essure coil inserted. Next week my doctor is scheduling a full hysterectomy because I am afraid the coil may not get entirely removed and a piece of metal gets left inside me,” says Emily.

Right after the Essure was inserted, Emily says she experienced severe pain. Her doctor said it would go away but that was back in 2013 and she is still suffering from terrible cramping and pain. Worse, she has constant infections and is “always on antibiotics,” which is potentially another serious problem. So why doesn’t Emily simply have it taken out? It’s not that easy...

“I had the Essure coil inserted by my gynaecologist in New York and later I moved to Georgia,” Emily explains. “My current doctor said he wasn’t familiar with Essure and won’t risk removing it. I told him that it has to come out because I can barely take care of my three boys with this constant pain. I can’t pick them up without doubling over. He gave me a choice: I could either get hormonal therapy or a hysterectomy. He could find a doctor to remove the coil but a piece of metal could be left behind. After all the research I have done, I tend to agree with him. I am afraid the coil won’t come out in one piece.”

Emily’s biggest fear about having Essure removed - and the fear of many other women - is that she might get pregnant and what if a piece of metal left behind harmed the baby?

She says the coil never felt right. “Actually, the Mirena IUD felt better than this Essure but I had the IUD removed in 2010 because it ruptured my uterine wall,” Emily says. “I thought my body could heal itself in three years, but maybe it didn’t...

“I spoke to my husband about this issue and we decided that a hysterectomy was our best option. It stinks. I think no one should have an Essure implanted; it should be taken off the market. I know some people are okay with it, but there shouldn’t be this many women suffering severe Essure complications,” Emily adds.

A Surgical Center in Emily’s state advertises Essure removal by microsurgery to the tune of $4,500. It cautions that a hysterectomy can be dangerous because “part of the device that is in the tube could be left behind.” The Center adds that “Essure removal is complicated by the anatomy of the fallopian tube.” This sterilization device is basically a wire inserted into the fallopian tube to elicit the formation of scar tissue to halt the passage of eggs from the ovaries. Knowing how common Essure complaints are and how difficult - and expensive - it is to remove, why would anyone opt for Essure as a birth control device?

Emily has spoken with an attorney who told her that she can file a claim when the Essure is removed. “I will talk to my doctor about this next week and I will keep you posted…”