FDA highlights significant risks related to Essure birth control

The Food and Drug Administration added serious risks, patient information and physician information to the agency’s website related to Essure permanent birth control: 

From the FDA site: 

Essure is a permanent birth control method for women (female sterilization). Implantation of the Essure System does not require a surgical incision. In the procedure, a health care provider inserts flexible coils through the vagina and cervix and into the fallopian tubes – the tubes that carry the eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. Over a period of about three months, tissue forms around the inserts. The build-up of tissue creates a barrier that keeps sperm from reaching the eggs, thus preventing conception. Essure is considered a permanent form of birth control and therefore is not intended to be removed.

Over the past several years, the FDA has been examining the growing number of reports of harm with Essure. The adverse events reported associated with the use of the Essure System include persistent pain, perforation of the uterus and/or fallopian tubes, intra-abdominal or pelvic device migration, abnormal or irregular bleeding, and allergy or hypersensitivity reactions. Some women have had surgical procedures to remove the device. In addition, Essure System failure, and, in some cases, incomplete patient follow-up have resulted in unintended pregnancies.

The FDA convened a meeting of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee on September 24, 2015, to hear expert scientific and clinical opinions as well as patients’ experiences regarding the benefits and risks of the Essure System. In addition, a public docket soliciting comments on the device remained open from July 22, 2015 until October 24, 2015. FDA received more than 2,800 comments in this docket and is reviewing each comment and the views and perspectives expressed.

The panel meeting and docket provide valuable information to inform the FDA’s decision-making processes, including the Agency’s consideration of potential risk mitigation strategies. This information is under careful review in FDA. We expect to complete our review and communicate publically about our next steps at the end of February 2016.

 http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/EssurePermanentBirthControl/default.htm