So I got the Essure done in Nov, 2010. So far, so good... no problems, nothing weird post procedure. However, my cycle which regulated to scary precision 6 months afterward is now all goofed up. Rather I'm late for this month, I have no pregnancy symptoms but no flow either.

Has anyone had skipped or intermittent cycles after getting the Essure procedure done? If there's still nothing by the end of this week, back to the doctor I go.

Thanks in advance! :D

I have found a doctor here in Montreal willing to perform a tubal ligation for me (providing I get approval from her gyno colleague and a psychiatrist first). However, my first choice would be a larascopic procedure using filshie clips or yoons to close off the fallopian tubes while my gyno wants to do a cauterization. Cauterization carries the risk of damage to surrounding organs although I'm sure it is much quicker and easier for the gyno.

I would LOVE to find a gyno willing to perform my tubal for me with filshie clips or yoons. Any suggestions?

Hello! I'm Niki. I'm 30 and live in Youngstown, Ohio. I'm wondering a few things.
1. I recently got enrolled in the Medicaid Family Planning Services program and I'm wondering if this covers a tubal?
2. If it does, where do I begin to find a doctor willing to do this for me?

It's time for my vasectomy. I'm hoping someone can recommend a urologist in NYC that won't give me shit for being 25 and childless. Anyone?

Hi all,

I'm considering campaigning on my OBGYN -- or, more accurately, I don't have a regular one and currently just hit the local PP -- for a partial hysterectomy. I'm not optimistic about my chances of (a) persuading someone to endorse the procedure (I'm 25 and have no kids) and (b) getting my insurance to pay for it. I'd really appreciate any help in terms of marshalling my arguments and raising my own awareness (maybe there's some complication I don't know about!).

( Background )


I've thought about a lot of other forms of birth control, but a partial hysterectomy is the only one that feels right. I considered IUDs, but I cannot handle how explicitly female the recommended checks (feel around in your vagina for the strings) would make me feel -- I would get way more dysphoria out of that than I do periods. The idea also just... squicks me, for lack of better words. I'm pretty turned off hormonal methods at this point. Methods that necessitate stopping before or during sex are riskier in terms of kids (high chance of incorrect application!), give more trouble with my already perturbed sex drive (like the depression and thryoid mess aren't enough), and, for most of them, once again draw attention to my female-ness that makes me very uncomfortable. Plus, do nothing for periods. My partner has offered to have a vasectomy, which I appreciate and would support him in if he chose that as his own method of reproductive control, but (a) I'm poly (b) it doesn't with my stupid bleeding body.

For a time, I thought tubal ligation was the best I could do -- it wouldn't fix my periods, but at least I wouldn't have to worry about kids, and there wouldn't be hormones. It's something.

But I've become increasingly convinced that a partial hysterectomy is right for me. It's permanent -- great. No more periods -- awesome! Since the ovaries stay in, hormonal disturbance is not great -- sweet.

However, I am not confident in my ability to get one, especially financially. I do have insurance currently and a well-paying job. I'll be quitting relatively soon (I'm willing to stay longer if that's what it takes to cover the procedure, but I'm dropping this job as soon as possible). After that, I will have a pretty low income, so at that point may qualify for assistance -- I definitely don't now. Currently I am in the Washington, D.C. area. After I quit my job, I will be in Pittsburgh, PA.

What do you think? Do I have a good case? Are there any glaring counter-indications? Any help/hints on how to get the procedure covered? Any risk factors that I should demonstrate awareness of, to better convince doctors I'm serious? Basically -- help.

Thank you folks for this great community. I read back a bit, and it gave me more confidence in my choice. I finally feel like I have some hope of being in control of this all.

hi all.  first lj post ever, so i hope i don't commit any major faux pas.  i'm scheduled to have the essure done this week and am a bit apprehensive.  i have known since age 15 that i did not ever want children (i'm 33 now).  i'm tired of hormones and ready for something permanent.  i've been on the nuva ring for a couple of years and the pill before that.  i recently quit smoking, which makes me feel a little better about being on hormones, but i still worry about future effects and i'm ready to know for sure i will not have children.

after reading some alarmist posts on other sites, i started second guessing my choice.  this community has helped bring me back to reality, i really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences.  i will update this post/write a new one with updates.

a concern: nickel allergies.  my doc asked if i was allergic to anything, but i thought she meant medication-wise.  after some research, i realized the essure was nickel titanium.  i will bring this up to my gyno.

I live in Japan (Tokyo) and have been wanting to get a sterilization done for some time (I'm 27). The Essure procedure seems nice but doesn't seem to be offered in Japan and since there have to be a few follow up appointments included with Essure, I can't really make the time to be constantly flying back and forth between Japan and the US.

The most viable option for me seems to be a tubal ligation.

I realize this is a total shot in the dark, but has anyone here gotten a tubal ligation in Japan and could share their experience? I plan on asking my GP about where I could get one done in my area soon and hopefully he won't give me grief about me being "too young," for it...

Anyway, thanks so much in advance for any info!

Hi everybody,

I am seriously considering getting Essured soon (I haven't talked to my GP about it, but I have saved up some money since I don't think I would qualify).
Until recently the only concern was the potentially painful insertion, but I have been googling about and came across a discussion board where few women claimed that they gained some weight around their abdomen area. From description it sounded like a hormonal weight gain (lower abdomen, and thighs) - and now I wonder - can Essure really have this side effect?
From what I know about the procedure it doesn't/shouldn't really affect hormones in any way. To me it is a concern since I did put some weight while on HBC (not much but annoying). And since it is much harder to get Essure out than to stop taking HBC I need more information.

So my question is - can Essure really have an effect like that?

thank you

Discovered that Blue Cross is covering Essure, and as I don't like the idea of surgery or major hospital stays, it seems the best choice for me and getting sterilized. I was wondering if a) anyone had a good experience in the Northeast PA area with a doctor who does the procedure and b) those of you who have gotten it done, how was the procedure, do you use it as your primary birth control, how has it held up, and how long since you got it done?

Thanks so much!

I have one child, am pregnant with number two, and am leaning towards sterilization at some point sooner rather than later after the birth, because 2 is enough for me and we've managed to have accidents and/or other problems with basically every form of birth control we've tried, from withdrawal to condoms to hormonal birth control to IUDs. Plus, worrying about unwanted pregnancy does a real number on my sex drive, even when using the supposedly reliable types of BC.

I would prefer vasectomy, since many of my male family members have undergone the procedure with no problems at all (including my grandfather in the 1960's and my father in the 1980's), but my husband is not enthusiastic about either one of us getting sterilized and no rosy pictures of an eternity of BC-free sex have so far managed to convince him. He's a doctor himself, but not a gynecologist and is also from a country where being childfree is literally incomprehensible, so he has some cultural biases against sterilization. From a medical perspective, he is also concerned about hormone disruption.

I've been trying to research post-op problems, especially relating to vaginal dryness and low sex drive (which caused years of problems for us after I gave birth the first time) for female sterilization and pain or erectile dysfunction (never been problems, but seem to be what he's most concerned about) for male sterilization, but most of the information I'm finding is from religious sites opposed to birth control and medical sites pushing tubal/vasectomy reversals.

Meanwhile, most of the mainstream medical sites pooh-pooh the possibility of any problems at all, but I don't have much more trust for them than for the religious sites, since they do the same for HBC, which was not a great experience for me. Does anyone know where I can find reliable, unbiased information on the probability of post-op problems for any or all of the major sterilization options?

Also, does anyone have any advice for convincing a reluctant husband?

Thanks in advance for any help!

I just wanted to post for others who may be looking for a doctor in the Corpus Christi area about my experience so far with Dr. Laura Shelton. Sorry if this is choppy and all over, I'm just really excited. :) ( Read more )

How much does an HSG cost without any insurance?

I had the Essure procedure on October 28th. I'm supposed to have the HSG after January 28th. My husband is getting out of the Army on January 3rd, and so we won't have insurance after then. So I guess we're going to have to pay out of pocket for the HSG. Does anyone know if Planned Parenthood does it on a sliding scale, or if there are any other places that do? If it's very expensive, we won't be able to afford it for a while. Is it okay to wait a few extra months, as long as we're using another form of birth control?

Or would it be possible to do the HSG a few weeks early? Is there a good chance my tubes might be occluded after nine weeks?

3 months passed since August 19 and it was time for my essure verification to make sure my tubes are blocked.

Last Wednesday, I arrived little earlier than I expected so I had to wait 45 minutes until my appointment.

An hour before the exam, I took 500mg naproxen and 75mg fexmid. They were leftover from a car accident I was in back in October. I also wore gripping socks because from what I heard that all x-ray places have no stirrups.

The receptionist guided me to the dressing room. I removed my pants, wore a gown and waited in the tiny room with other people. 5 minutes later, the tech came and called me. She explained me about the procedure and some questions. She basically said the procedure would probably take between 15 to 30 minutes because it depends on the angle of my cervix. She showed me a few things - iodine, x-ray dye, swabs, plastic speculum, and cannula, catheter with syringe. I made a face when I saw the cannula because it was huge like a pencil! She said I will feel little pain and moderate cramps.

The radiologist came in and greeted me. I laid on the cold, hard table with a pillow under my head. The speculum was inserted. He applied a swab with iodine into my cervix. The tech held my left leg and I felt a sharp pain when the cannula was inserted into my cervix but it went away in 2 seconds. I thought it was nothing... until the injection of the dye. The pain took me by surprise. My eyes welled up and my legs trembled. The pain scale between 1 to 10 for my cramps on period is 4 but this pain is 12! It was intense like.. a thousand of needles stabbing in my uterus. I could only imagine what it felt like to be kicked down there if I was a guy.

The pain subsided but the radiologist injected again. Argh, the pain came back again. I thought I was going to pass out because I was feeling very light-headed. That moment, I wanted to kick his face! I grasped my jacket, I covered my eyes and held my breath. The tech came to me, held my hand and said "It is okay. It is almost done." She asked me to roll to the left then to the right and in the fetal position too.

Everything took only five minutes but I felt like much longer than that. The tech told me to rest a little bit. I had an awkward moment with the radiologist. He asked me why did I have essure? He thought I was too young. I simply told him that I don't want kids. He was kind of appalled. He walked out without saying goodbye or a handshake. I was glad he asked me after that because he could refuse to do the procedure if he knew before that. The tech apologized but she gave me great news that I'm 100% blocked. YAYYYYYY! :D She said I can lay down for ten minutes or until I am ready to go but I told her that I am definitely ready to leave. I didn't want to lay down because I live 2 hours away and I wanted to beat rush hour. The tech was little concerned and wanted to make sure I'm not dizzy or light-headed. I kept telling her that I am perfectly fine and I don't have cramps. She gave me a pad and wet wipe. I was fine but the hard part was walking. My legs were still shaking but I managed to get out of the building with my significant other.

I didn't have cramps except feeling bloated from dye. It discharged after few hours.

Yesterday and today, I feel little pulling sensation in my uterus but besides that, I'm great. No bleeding or pain.

My health insurance at work will be starting on the first of the year. The deductible is high and it will be expensive, but since I have no choice in the matter -- needing it, I mean, not getting it; it'll save me money if I end up in the hospital, which with me is a possibility -- so it goes.

Interestingly, my boss brought up the other day the fact that my rate is higher because I'm female and of childbearing age. I asked, without really thinking, "What if I was sterile?" and she was puzzled…not by my inquiry, but by whether the insurance company would account for that in the price of my coverage.

I didn't tell her, of course, that I had Essure 3 years ago and unless something goes horribly wrong there's no chance of me ever conceiving children…I don't think that's something my boss really needs to know.

So how do you approach this? The odds that an insurance company will have to cover a pregnancy or an abortion for me are very, very slim at this point, even ignoring the whole "I'm single and work 12- to 14-hour days and unless some deity gets horny…" thing, and I would think that my insurance costs should reflect that.

(Don't even get me started on the whole "The whole thing is incredibly sexist!" thing, because let's face it, it totally is.)

Has anyone here ever worked with this, and gotten a lower rate because they've been sterilized (or are sterile by natural causes)? I imagine I could just call my insurance agent and talk to them about it, but I wonder if I would have to prove it. I could, mind, it just seems like it's a weird thing to prove -- I don't have to prove I'm diabetic, after all, why should I have to prove other things involving my endocrine system...?

Well, this update took long enough to write, but life has been pretty hectic. Here it is, my sterilization story. Please keep in mind that this is a lifelong dream of mine, and that if you are interested in any sort of medical procedure, you should talk to your medical professional. As always, YMMV.



( Behind the cut: long ramblings, pictures that could be considered NSFW, and possible TMI. Continue at your own risk. )

(Cross posted to my livejournal, sterilizationqa, childfree, and cf_hardcore. Apologies if you see this more than once.)

I'm 27 and live in Southern California.

July 3rd: I made an appointment at local Planned Parenthood for pap smear and pelvic exam. I told the medical assistant that I am not happy with my birth control method and I want something permanent. The first question she asked me was if I have children. I said, "No and don't want any." She was going to give me a full sales pitch about essure but I told her that was not necessary. I had been doing research on essure for three years and I am pretty sure I want it. I had a consultation with my doctor and it was only 5 minutes. The doctor gave me a goodie bag for sterilization process: a package of condoms and two emergency contraceptive boxes. She approved me for essure but she mentioned that there is mandatory counseling. She booked me an appointment.

July 6th: I was nervous for counseling. They called me and I came in. The counselor dismissed me because she had a personal issue about me being hearing impaired. She judged me harshly before asking me any questions. I suspected her rejection because she probably was a pro-baby. She had a blue baby pacifier tattoo on her wrist. Or... She didn't like deaf people. I had to reschedule my counseling appointment on the next day.

July 7th: I was grumpy and didn't really want to deal with that woman again but I had to drag my boyfriend to interpret for me since the counselor refused to talk to me. I guess the counselor still didn't want to see me because the medical assistant practically did everything. The counseling was very straightforward and I didn't understand why it was too hard for the counselor to do her fucking job.

The medical assistant wanted to make sure that I understand that the essure procedure is irreversible and I had to pick new birth control method to stop my periods for six months which I didn't even know because I've been researching for three years and it didn't even mention about stopping my periods before the procedure starts. It also helps thinning the uterine lining. I chose depo provera: three month contraceptive injection. She booked me another appointment for pre-op but they transferred me to different Planned Parenthood for surgical site which it is 2 hours of driving.

July 20th: My Pre-Op Essure was kind of pointless. I spent two hours there. Repetitive questions from my recent counseling. My new doctor was cocky and arrogant. He asked me some weird questions like how men are manipulative and they would change my mind or make me feel guilty for not creating a baby for him. I kept telling him that it is my body and my choice. He laughed every time I answered his questions. He thought he is being funny but to me, he was cocky. I didn't trust him doing essure on me but he assured me that he did over 70 - 80 patients and none of them had complications except one woman because her fallopian tubes were too small. Anyway, he wanted pelvic exam again and I was annoyed because I already had one last July 3rd and it is in the friggin' chart!!! He explained about the plan for my procedure -- I will have a deep sleep sedation (or known as a mild dose of general anesthesia.) He also will use a local anesthetic and it will be applied to my cervix to make it numb. It should take only 5 - 10 minutes to insert each metal coil in my fallopian tubes then I will stay in the room to rest for an hour before going home. The recovery should take only one or two days. No prescriptions except he instructed me to take 800mg ibuprofen before going to sleep and one hour before my appointment. No food and drinks after midnight. Wear something comfortable.

August 19th: I woke up at 6AM and prepared everything: Pads, menstrual heat wraps and a bottle of ibuprofen. I already popped 800mg ibuprofen before I went to bed. It is for preventing fallopian tubes spasm during insertion.

I popped another 800mg around 9AM -- an hour before my appointment. I signed some papers before my procedure. They told me that the procedure would take only 45 minutes. They wanted my urine sample for pregnancy test then they were prepped my IV and gave me a shot for pain. I was with six women in the back room, they all were getting essure too. A woman departed every hour. Two hours of waiting and two women were gone. I was next. I finally got in the procedure room at 1:05PM!

The nurse told me to take my pants off and she looked down on my feet. She said, "Do you have socks?" I didn't know that I was required to bring socks. The doctor didn't instruct me from my pre-op appointment. She gave me cute turquoise ankle socks. I took my pants off and wrapped it with paper sheet. I laid on the table exam. My doctor came in and he smirked, "Are you ready??" I nodded and gave him my thumbs up. He said, "Good luck" then left. The anesthetist came in. We talked for a bit. She wanted to make sure I am not allergic to anything and no health problems. The nurse told me to put my legs up in stirrups then she strapped my legs. I told nurse that I am cold. The room was pretty freezing. She gave me a fleece blanket. The anesthetist asked me if I am ready. I nodded. She injected two different vials in my IV. Like 15 seconds later, I saw a nurse was holding a plastic speculum and that was my last memory.

I woke up twice during the procedure. In the middle of procedure: I told myself that I need to scratch my nose. I woke up and it was blurry. I reached my nose but something was blocked. I realized that I had an oxygen mask on. I attempted to take it off but the anesthetist took my hand away. The nurse held my hand down. I saw her inject another small dose into my IV. I felt like I was floating in the bottom of a pool. I fell asleep again. Second time, I felt a long rod being pulled out of my cervix. It didn't hurt but I was confused when warm liquid squirted out of my vagina. The nurse wiped/cleaned my vagina area.

I have little memory of after the procedure, the resting and home.

I woke up on the table exam. I was surprised that I was completely dressed even a pad in my undie too. I asked a nurse if the procedure went well. She said, "Yes, it was perfect." I was puzzled and didn't understand because I didn't feel the pain. When I got up, my legs were trembling. I told nurse that I can't walk. She brought a wheelchair and transferred me to the facility resting area. I was kinda in and out every few minutes. I checked my phone and it was 1:45 so I guess the procedure took less than 20 minutes. I drunk-texted my boyfriend and I absolutely had no idea what I was saying. I asked the nurse like four times to make sure I am already essure'd. I was really confused because I've read several women's experiences with essure: they constantly talked about cramps and pain after the procedure and I didn't have it. I was perfectly fine and probably able to run a marathon. The nurse scribbled on a note and I don't even remember what she was asking me but I only remember one question: She asked me my pain scale between 1 to 10 for my uterus/cervix. I said zero. She was confused. She said, "No pain? No cramps?" I shook my head but I said, "Mild cramps on my thighs." She thought it is from the stirrups but I didn't feel like explaining the pain. I usually get cramps on my thighs on the first day of my period. I couldn't stay awake so I fell asleep. The nurse woke me up and told me that I am ready to go home. She gave me an ID card that I am essure'd. I finally got out of Planned Parenthood at 2PM.

My boyfriend got me some food from Arby's and a bottle of water. I ate and drank everything in less than 10 minutes. I was feeling fuzzy and happy. No motion sickness or throwing up. I also don't remember the three hour trip from Planned Parenthood to my home. I guess I was pretty drugged from anesthesia. I don't know if it is because the anesthetist gave me double doses.

I arrived home around 5PM. I stripped, saw my pad and it was full of blood. It was weird because I didn't feel bleeding. I took a hot bath before I knew I am not supposed to because it has a minimal risk of getting infection. My tub was pretty clean so I didn't think it is a big deal. I just needed to soak my legs in hot water and it immediately relieved my thighs. It was not tender or stiff. I took nap for two hours then watched Austin Powers but I didn't finish it. I went to bed and slept like completely dead.

Next morning, I woke up and I felt normal. No sore or pain. No bedridden or popping painkiller pills. I was able to go back to my normal routine. I guess I am one of those women on Essure.com's testimonials. I just went my day like if nothing had happened.

My essure will be confirmed in the end of November.

Essure'd last Thursday. No pain or cramps after the procedure. I was perfectly fine and probably able to run a marathon. The doctor didn't prescribe me anything. No painkiller meds. He only said take ibuprofen. Last Friday, I was doing pretty good. Everything was normal but yesterday, I started to bleed a little. I've been using pads but I hate it because I always use a menstrual cup when I'm on my period. I am not sure if it is okay to use a diva cup because the nurse said no tampons.

Today, I am experiencing PMS symptoms: bloating, back ache and irritability. Is it normal? Because I'm on depo provera and supposed to get another injection in the beginning of September.

When can I start working out again? My nurse said whatever I feel like to. What about sex, take baths and swim?? I just wanted to be more safe and ask you guys here. Thanks!!!

I will post my experience here this week. :)

Does anyone else feel like their hormonal birth control suppresses their capability to feel emotional? I started taking it for painful periods and an impending sexual relationship, and after several years of being on it and asking those about me whether or not it effects me in ways I can't personally notice I'm getting a lot of "You're more mellow on the pill." On my week off I can definitely tell that my mood swings wildly for the first several days and then evens out by the sixth or seventh, but everything feels...more, for lack of a better word, than it does during my three months on. This particular pill also -kills- my sex drive, which in my opinion makes taking the pill pointless. Why take something to prevent pregnancy when the only time I want to have sex is when I don't have that protection?

I'm going to talk alternatives with my GYN sincce I'm ultimately gearing toward having the Essure procedure done, but would certainly appreciate some feedback about whether or not this is unusual.

I went for my HSG recently and got the results back and everything went well! I am now fully sterilized.

It was four months after the Essure, because I couldn't take off work during the opportunity window at three months. Having to schedule the HSG on such short notice ("call us when your period starts") meant that I did it in the morning and had an important event to go to in the evening, but really, the HSG itself was basically nothing. I still had some of the 800mg ibuprofen left from the Essure, and I took one the night before and one the morning of, had the whole day off work, went to the lab, it was a tiny bit of discomfort from the speculum and a little odd feeling being squirted full of liquid, but no pain at all. Then went home, had a nap (was very sleep-deprived from other things going on), and felt FINE.

So both Essure and HSG went quite well and were easier than I had worried about. Yay!

Hello anyone get just the uterus removed? I am having bleeding & pain issues & it is suggested I get my uterus removed. Will it effect my sex drive hormones ect? Thank You! Any opinion or stories welcome :)