Essure is a permanent birth control device that has recently become available as an alternative to traditional tubal ligation methods. The spring-like device is inserted through the uterine cavity into the tubal openings using a hysteroscope. Because of the scar formation, it cannot be pulled out of the tube. It is advertised by the manufacturer as a permanent method of birth control. In this respect, it is similar to other tubal ligation methods that are considered by most doctors to be permanent.
Dr. Gary Berger of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center has successfully repaired the tubes following an Essure procedure. Dr. Berger accomplished this by cutting the Essure device out of the uterine muscle and implanting the remaining fallopian tube into the uterine cavity through a new opening in the uterus in a procedure called tubouterine implantation. The reason Dr. Berger removed the device was that part of the metal spring projects into the uterine cavity. If a pregnancy were to occur with the device in place, this could be harmful to the pregnancy.
To our knowledge, Dr. Berger is the only surgeon that has performed a tubal reversal surgery to reverse the Essure ligation method.
Read Dr. Berger's Blog on Reversing Tubal Essure
