Hysteroscopic tubal occlusion is one of the newest types of tubal ligation procedures. These procedures are different from the other forms of tubal ligation because they are performed from from inside the uterus. These procedures can be performed in a doctor’s office with a hysteroscope (a small cameras inserted through the vagina and cervix).
There are two forms of hysteroscopic tubal occlusion: Essure and Adiana. These procedures were first introduced into the US market around 2001. Since their introduction the Adiana device has been discontinued because of patent issues and is no longer being performed in the US.
The Essure procedure is intended to cause permanent tubal blockage.
We were the first doctors in the world to publish successful reports of full term pregnancies after surgical reversal of both Essure and Adiana tubal ligation procedures.1-2
Essure sterilization: How is it done?
The Essure can be performed in an operating room but is increasingly being done within the doctors office.
During an Essure sterilization procedure, a small camera is inserted through the vagina and cervix and into the cavity of the uterus. An Essure coil made of nickel and titanium metal is placed inside the narrow opening of each fallopian tube.
The Essure devices cause the fallopian tube to heal closed by the gradual formation of scar tissue inside the tube.
The scar tissue formation causes blockage of the fallopian tubes but only in the very beginning and narrowest part of the tube. The Essure coils are intended to permanently remain in the fallopian tubes after the scar tissue has formed.
Reversing Essure sterilization
Dr. Charles Monteith and Dr. Gary Berger, the expert tubal reversal surgeons at A Personal Choice, published the first reports of successful reversal and pregnancy after both Adiana and Essure reversal in the peer reviewed medical literature. 1,2
These newer tubal ligation procedures are safely reversed at our specialty center through a 90 minute, outpatient operation called microsurgical tubouterine implantation.
Chances of pregnancy after Essure reversal
Although the Essure is a newer type of tubal ligation this procedure can be successfully reversed at our center as an outpatient operation.
We were the first doctors to report successful pregnancies within the peer reviewed medical literature after surgical reversal of both the Essure and Adiana procedures and we continue to have patients travel to us for both Essure removal and Essure reversal.
The chances of pregnancy after reversal of Essure or Adiana sterilization is approximately 29%.
References
1. Normal pregnancy after outpatient tubouterine implantation in patient with Adiana sterilization. Monteith CW, Berger GS. Fertility Sterility 2011;Jul 96(1) 45-6.
2. Successful Pregnancies After Removal of Intratubal Microinserts. Monteith CW, Berger GS. Obstet Gyncecol 2012;119:470-472.
