I decided to get permanent birth control in 2009 while going through a divorce with my then husband. He had had a vasectomy done in 2003 so it was the first time I had to really think about birth control in a few years. Being a then Navy wife I went to the OB/GYN clinic at the Navy base because I was interested in getting a tubal. The doctor I spoke to recommended the Essure procedure. She made it sound so great. She said she had done it for many women and none of them had had any problems. They gave me information about the procedure, but 99% of the information was about the probability of problems during the actual procedure and the likelihood of the the procedure not blocking the tubes completely within 3 months. After the Essure procedure, at my 3 month follow up I was told that I had complete blockage of my tubes. With in a month or two I started having irregular periods. I would have a period for twice as long as normal and then wouldn’t have one for 2 months. The periods I did have were way heavier than I had ever had. The pain is unbelievable. It’s not constant, it’s sharp intermittent pain. I still haven’t had anything done about it because since my divorce I didn’t have medical insurance and couldn’t afford the cost. Now that I have medical insurance again, I have an appointment to see a OB/GYN. I hope I can have them taken out.