I went to my gynecologist for my annual check up in Nov. 2008. I inquired about getting back on depo provera, which I had once used for at least 10 years, when my doctor began to explain to me a new procedure call Essure. He stated that it was an in office procedure done under local anesthesia and that I would be in and out of the office in less than an hour. I had never had any surgeries and was excited about a permenant birth control option that did not require an incision. I went home, did my research and scheduled the procedure the next month. Needless to say, in the office he was only able to insert the device in one side of my ovary without extreme pain. He informed me that he would have to schedule me for the other side to be done under general anesthesia in the hospital. I assume he had arrangements with the hospital for cost to only include what my insurance would cover but I discovered that I had additional fees for him and the hospital.
Then within 6 months I lost my health insurance and shortly after began experiencing what was referred to as ‘peri-menopausal symptoms.’ Hot flashes, low back pain, random periods, insomnia, and weight gain. To date, I do not have health insurance so I have been unable to receive any follow up evaluation and I still experience all the same symptoms.