Hysteroscopic sterilization leaves patients satisfied

Essure (Conceptus, Inc.), the outpatient, hysteroscopic sterilization procedure that requires no sedation or general anesthesia, received high marks for patient satisfaction in a prospective cohort study.

Researchers from the United Kingdom reviewed data on 112 women undergoing the procedure. Successful bilateral tubal placement occurred in 92% (95% CI, 85%–96%). No major procedure-related complications were noted, but transient vasovagal reactions occurred in 5% of the women. Bilateral tubal occlusion was confirmed via hysterosalpingogram (HSG) 3 months after the procedure in 83 of the 84 women undergoing HSG (99%; 95% CI, 94%–100%) and in 100% of the women at 6 months after the procedure.

Ninety-six percent (95% CI, 88%–99%) of the women returning questionnaires were satisfied with their overall experience, with 88% reporting being "very satisfied" (95% CI, 78%–94%). The authors of the study commented that scheduling the procedure during the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle helps to optimize success, especially in the presence of a clinically enlarged uterus.