Aug 19, 2009 6:06 pm US/Eastern
New Birth Control Helping More Women
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
There have been fewer births since the economy took a turn for the worse. Many couples are taking birth control more seriously than ever. Some women are turning to a non-surgical procedure that doctors say is safe, quick and effective.
Jessica Krizmanich is a single, working mom, and for this 38-year old the size of her family is just fine.
"I really made the decision to not have any more kids nine years ago," said Krizmanich.
Hormonal pills, shots, and patches weren't for her. She also tried the IUD and the diaphragm."I struggled with all of them, and they were cumbersome and difficult," she admitted. Krizmanich wanted something permanent to prevent pregnancy. So she decided on Essure.
"They did it here in the office, which was really nice," she said. No incisions, no scars.
The small, flexible coils are threaded up, through the birth canal and womb, and into the fallopian tubes. Over time, a scar forms and plugs up this area, preventing sperm and egg from joining.
"Somebody has to be 100% certain that there's no way in the future they ever would want any children or any more children," explained Dr. Mitchell Creinin, a family planning specialist. The procedure can be done in the doctor's office, without general anesthesia.
"They did give me some medication to relax me and some pain medication beforehand and waited an hour for that to take effect. The procedure lasted, perhaps 10 minutes, and I was on my way home after, Krizmanich said.
To make sure it works, three months later, there's an x-ray dye test. "It was a little uncomfortable. They inject dye into your fallopian tubes just to make sure the dye stays right where it's supposed to stay and isn't getting through the fallopian tubes, she explained.
Until this test is performed, a backup method must be used. "Sometimes the coils don't stay in place or are difficult to put in and the uterus can be injured. If we can't get the coils in the office, then commonly we go to the operating room, Creinin said.
Out of pocket, Essure is about $5,000 but insurance usually covers it. At five years out, there have been zero pregnancies in clinical trials.
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