By Jagjit Khairah, D.O.
Here’s a question that might interest you: Is there a birth-control procedure done in a doctor’s office without making incisions?
The answer is an emphatic “Yes.”
Here in our OB/GYN Department at Kelsey-Seybold’s Fort Bend Medical and Diagnostic Center, we are doing Essure® procedures – a minimally invasive, permanent birth-control option for women.
It doesn’t involve incisions, hormonal replacement or general anesthesia. And, because it’s done in my office, it’s enormously convenient and cost-effective for the patient and just as effective as the traditional tubal ligation.
The Essure method is safe, effective and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2002. I believe that most insurance plans cover the procedure with only a co-payment as out-of-pocket expense.
There’s very little discomfort involved. Some patients describe a mild cramping sensation during the procedure that’s similar to a Pap test.
The Procedure
After administering a mild, localized anesthetic, I pass small, flexible inserts from the vagina, through the cervix and uterus, and into the fallopian tubes.
Unlike other forms of tubal ligation, no incision through the abdomen is required.
The procedure usually takes less than 15 minutes. Most patients are able to resume their normal activities the following day.
About three months after the procedure, we’ll have an office visit for a checkup to confirm that the tubes are, indeed, fully blocked. Menstrual periods should more or less continue in their natural state.
It’s important for patients as well as their partners to understand that the Essure procedure is permanent and NOT reversible. I counsel patients in advance to make certain they understand this.
For more information, please feel free to contact my office at 713-442-9204.