Placement of the Essure Permanent Birth Control Device with Fluoroscopic Guidance: A Novel Method for Tubal Sterilization

An effective transcervical method for fluoroscopically guided fallopian tube occlusion has long been sought for female sterilization. The Essure permanent birth control device was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in November 2002 and is currently indicated for hysteroscopic placement. In a series of eight patients, bilateral Essure microcoils were placed with fluoroscopic guidance in seven patients for a success rate of 87.5%. One patient described peri- and postprocedure pelvic pain, otherwise no complications were identified. All patients returned to normal activities within 24 hours. Fluoroscopically guided transcervical tubal sterilization with the Essure microcoil device (Conceptus, San Carlos, CA) is a viable outpatient procedure.