Outcomes after a Uterine-Sparing Approach to Essure Contraceptive Device Removal

To analyze long-term effectiveness of a conservative, uterine-sparing approach to laparoscopic Essure removal. Specific outcomes of interest include patient satisfaction, symptom resolution, and subsequent surgical intervention.

A retrospective case series and follow-up survey. Patients who underwent laparoscopic Essure removal without concomitant hysterectomy between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019 were identified. Greater than 18 months after removal participants completed a survey assessing outcomes.

Twenty-nine patients underwent conservative Essure removal and there were 19 survey respondents. Among survey respondents, the mean length of time from Essure placement to removal was 56.7 months (range 5 - 117), and the mean length of time from removal to survey administration was 48.3 months (range 23 - 63). The most frequently reported symptoms were pain (100%), bleeding (52.6%), headache (42.1%), and dyspareunia (42.1%). Methods for removal included laparoscopic salpingectomy (58.6%), a combined hysteroscopic and laparoscopic approach (34.4%), and cornuectomy (6.9%). Regarding symptom improvement after Essure removal, 47.4% of patients reported total improvement, 36.8% reported almost total improvement, 5.3% reported some improvement, and 10.5% reported no improvement. Most patients (89.5%) reported satisfaction with their surgical results, and only two patients required subsequent surgical intervention for symptom management.

Most patients in our cohort reported total or almost total improvement in symptoms almost two years after Essure removal, with low rates of reintervention. A uterine-sparing approach to Essure removal, using laparoscopic and hysteroscopic modalities, may be a feasible and effective approach to addressing Essure-attributed symptoms.