Essure® and chronic pelvic pain: a population-based cohort
J E Arjona Berral1, B Rodríguez Jiménez, E Velasco Sánchez
1Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía , Córdoba.
Summary
Chronic pelvic pain after Essure® microinsert placement for sterilization is rare, affecting only 0.16% of women. Removal of the Essure device typically resolves the pain, indicating its effectiveness in managing this side effect.
Area of Science:
- Gynecology
- Reproductive Health
- Surgical Outcomes
Background:
- Essure® microinserts are a method for permanent female sterilization.
- Chronic pelvic pain is a potential, though not well-documented, complication following device placement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of chronic pelvic pain after Essure® microinsert placement.
- To evaluate the outcomes of Essure® device removal in patients experiencing chronic pelvic pain.
Main Methods:
- A case series of 4,274 women who underwent Essure® sterilization between 2005 and 2011.
- Data collected from a hysteroscopy unit database, medical records, and telephone surveys.
- Focused on procedure difficulty, patient tolerance, analgesic use, side effects, and pain onset/resolution timelines.
Main Results:
- Seven women (0.16%) developed chronic pelvic pain requiring Essure® removal.
- The mean time between placement and removal was 29.4 months.
- All seven patients experienced complete symptom resolution after device removal.
Conclusions:
- Chronic pelvic pain is an uncommon complication of Essure® microinsert sterilization.
- Essure® device removal is an effective treatment for associated chronic pelvic pain.
