Hysteroscopic tubal sterilization using Essure system

January 01, 0001

Hysteroscopic tubal sterilization using Essure system

This systematic review by Finnish authors is based on the report of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research and completed with systematic literature searches up to April 2008. Women included were over 30 years and who had been sterilized by Hysteroscopic tubal sterilization using Essure system.

They found: "Sterilization by Essure can be performed under local anesthesia or with oral analgesics in ambulatory settings. However, sterilization is not immediate and women must use additional contraception for 3 months until permanent tubal occlusion is verified by transvaginal ultrasound, hysterosalpingosonography, hysterosalpingography, or pelvic radiography. The evidence on efficacy and safety is mainly available from short follow-up case series but shows good efficacy and safety of the Essure system. Only a few small risks are associated with the procedure. Two economic studies, one of which implemented Essure as an in-office procedure, suggest that Essure could be more cost-effective than laparoscopic sterilization, but more information on the total cost is needed."

The authors concluded: "The Essure system appears to be safe, permanent, irreversible, and a less invasive method of contraception compared with laparoscopic sterilization."

This less invasive approach to tubal sterilization promised to be a big advance. However, more long-term outcome data are still needed.

For the full abstract, click here.

Fertil Steril 94(1): 16-19, June 2010 © 2010 to American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Hysteroscopic tubal sterilization: a systematic review of the Essure system. Ritva Hurskainen, Sirpa-Liisa Hovi, Mika Gissler, et al. Correspondence to Dr. Hurskainen: [email protected]

Category: X. Female Genital System, Breast. Keywords: Essure, tubal sterilization, hysteroscopic sterilization, systematic review of observational data, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Linda French, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 15 June 2010

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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