Hysteroscopic sterilization with the use of formed-in-place silicone plugs

Hysteroscopic sterilization with the use of a formed-in-place silicone plug is an office procedure which can be done with paracervical block anesthesia. It appears to be an effective method of sterilization. The present study is a review of 206 of the author's patients who chose this procedure. Thirty-four patients (16.5%) had more than one procedure for a total of 244 cases. Sterilizations were achieved in 188 patients (91.3%). The sterilization was accomplished in 166 patients (80.6%) at the time of the first procedure, in 20 of 40 patients (9.7%) at the second procedure, and in two of four patients (1.0%) at the third procedure. The primary reason for failure to achieve sterilization was tubal spasm. Of the 18 patients (8.7%) who were not sterilized, 16 were considered as failures and dropped from the study and two are awaiting a repeat procedure. No patients have become pregnant and there have been no significant complications.