BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Awesome info from doctor re: Essure

Hi Everyone! I know we've talked a lot about this lately, but I wanted to share that I went to see my doctor today and asked about Essure. She was totally supportive and gave me lots of info, and also compared it to the tubal procedure and the vasectomy.

She said she highly recommends Essure over the other two because it is the most non-invasive (even over the vasectomy!), there is no general anesthesia involved, and patients have almost no pain with or after the procedure--said most people just take an ibuprofin afterwards if anything.

She also said you just go back 3-6 months later and they check to see that the tubes are closed (she has a camera that goes in through the uterus), then you know you're good to go and can stop using other contraception--this is different from a vasectomy b/c the guy has to go back several times to give, ahem, "samples" until they test free of sperm

I told her that we're deciding what procedure to do and want to take action next year since we'll both be 35. I was really happy with how helpful and supportive she was. At the end she did say wanted us to be 100% sure we don't want kids before we did any of the surgeries, but she was not judgmental at all and didn't act like she thought we weren't sure.

Woo hoo! I'm off to read all the stuff she gave me, but I just wanted to tell you all what the doctor said about Essure. Hope this is helpful for someone

This is really helpful. I need to find a doctor in my area to talk to about this. She didn't say anything about side effects, if any? I heard some women had heavy cramping and bleeding afterwards.

My doctor said some women do have some cramping right afterwards, but can just take ibuprofin or similar--they didn't need any pain killers. I also asked about side effects and she said since it's non-invasive, there's no surgery side effects and also that it doesn't affect the hormones or anything either so you wouldn't feel 'out of balance'. Hope this helps!

Thanks..that information is great!

I think I need to see my doctor about this on my next visit! It sounds perfect.

this does sounds awesome! i'm going to ask my doctor about this when i go next month! do you know if most ins. cover the procedure?

indigo

From what I read last night, it does sound like most insurance will cover the procedure. I'm going to check with mine and see exactly how much I'll have to pay, but since they change the darn plan every year I may just wait until next year so I can get accurate info for when I actually want the procedure.

This is really cool. I've never heard of Essure. I'd have done it if the hubby hadn't already had a vasectomy. It looks worth checking into further. Thanks for the info.

i'm going to check with my ins. company to see if they cover it. hopefully they will b/c it really sounds like a great option for me!

indigo

She also said you just go back 3-6 months later and they check to see that the tubes are closed (she has a camera that goes in through the uterus), then you know you're good to go and can stop using other contraception--this is different from a vasectomy b/c the guy has to go back several times to give, ahem, "samples" until they test free of sperm
Kinderfrei and others,
I hope the Essure works out as well for you as the vasectomy did for me. Here are a couple things that are worth pointing out WRT a vasectomy:

1) It took me 5 weeks to clear the sperm from my system. Filling the sample containers at home in the course of normal adult fun w/my then GF was no big deal since I live a mile from the local hospital. For those who live farther away from a hospital or clinic, this could be more unpleasant. I was told to bring in the sample containers within one hour of collection.
2) My out of pocket cost was $160. I am on a Blue Cross health plan.

I am mentioning the above because I know some of the women on this board have problems w/the pill or other hormonal BC and the sooner they can stop w/the hormonal BC the better. Others on the board whose husbands/BFs have had a vasectomy are very happy to be relieved from the burden of birth control.