I had the Essure devices implanted in 2006 by my gynecologist. It was the most painful experience I have ever endured – and I gave birth to both of my daughters without pain medication. My gynecologist had trouble getting the implants placed correctly, so, it took much longer than anticipated, and I bled a lot. Because we were in the doctors office, I was very concious of trying to be quiet because you could hear through the walls though I would have liked to scream. Whenever someone asked me a question, I had to work very hard to control myself from screaming or crying when I spoke. Though it was a much bigger deal than I was initially sold on, I had no point of reference, and thought my ordeal was over.
After the procedure, I suffered for months with periods that were on an unpredictable schedule. I bled so much sometimes that couldn’t be on my feet or go out for extended periods of time. I had such intense pain that several times I was afraid that I was going to pass out in public.
I was assured by both my gynecologist and Conceptus that extreme discomfort I was experiencing was normal while my body adjusted to the implants.
During my initial consultaion with my gynecologist, she used the euphemism ‘x-ray’ to describe the procedure that would determine whether the procedure had been a success. The Conceptus brochure used similarly benign language.
After the procedure I was shocked to recieve a call from the Nuclear Medicine department at the hospital to schedule my ‘follow up’. Turns out that the ‘x-ray’ was a procedure that required filling my uterus with radiocative fluid. What?????
At that point I felt so violated, and misled – that I did not go in to have the procedure.
Did I mention that when I arrived at the office, I was asked if it would be ok if some people from Conceptus could be in the room for the implantation? I was nervous and emotional (can’t remember if I had taken the valium yet) and said yes. Humiliating.
This was a big decision that my husband and I made together – though he left the final to me. Unfortunately, what should have been an empowering decision for me as a wife and mother of 2 left me feeling violated, isolated, and frustrated.
FYI – my husband and I have never regretted for a moment that we chose a permanent form of birth control. It was suggested to me that by Conceptus that the displeasure I was relating to them about the problems I was having was a result of my having some regret about the decision to chose a permanent option.