Analysis of pain and satisfaction with office-based hysteroscopic sterilization

ObjectiveTo assess pain and patient satisfaction with office-based hysteroscopic sterilization.DesignThis prospective, observational study was designed to assess patient pain perception and satisfaction with office-based hysteroscopic sterilization using the Essure device (Conceptus, Mountain View, CA).SettingFaculty practice office at an inner-city urban medical center.Patient(s)Women seeking hysteroscopic sterilization.Intervention(s)Office hysteroscopic sterilization under local anesthesia.Main Outcome Measure(s)Pain assessed at the time of the procedure by a 0–10 visual scale and satisfaction by a 1–5 scale.Result(s)From June 2003 to June 2006, 209 patients were recruited. The mean scores for average procedural pain, most procedural pain, and average menstrual pain were 2.6 ± 2.1, 3.3 ± 2.5, and 3.6 ± 2.6, respectively. Standardized pain scores revealed that 149 subjects (70%) experienced average pain that was less than or equal to the pain experienced with their menses. Mean satisfaction rating for the procedure was 4.7 ± 0.71.Conclusion(s)Office-based hysteroscopic sterilization performed with local anesthesia alone is well tolerated, and patients are satisfied with this method for permanent sterilization.