Essure transcervical tubal sterilization: a 5-year x-ray follow up

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the x-ray appearance of Essure microinserts 5 years after their insertion. DESIGN: Prospective controlled study. SETTING: Tertiary referral centers for gynecologic care. PATIENT(S): Forty-five consecutive women with successful hysteroscopic bilateral placement of the Essure devices and postprocedure satisfactory hysterosalpingography confirmation test. INTERVENTION(S): Pelvic anteroposterior x-ray. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Stability and and symmetric appearance of Essure microinsert positions; measurement of the intrauterine distance between the two devices. RESULT(S): After 5 years from their placement, no detachment nor fracture of devices was observed. x-Ray recognition of the device after 5 years showed findings similar to those recorded at 3 months' follow-through hysterosalpingography. CONCLUSION(S): x-Ray evaluation of findings related to stability of position, symmetric appearance, and distance between the two Essure microinserts corroborates the irreversibility and the reliability of the fibrotic reaction that ensured tubal occlusion after devices placement.