In 2006 I gave birth to our 3rd child and months later my husband and I decided 3 was a good number for us. I spoke to my doctor about birth control options and she mentioned Essure, after not being happy with other methods. She informed me that the procedure was quick and 100 % effective. My husband at the time was active duty military, we were both 26 years old and he was absent from the home a lot, therefore, we knew it would be best to make my birth control permanent. I decided to go through with the procedure in December of 2006 at Naval Hospital Lemoore.
The procedure itself went smoothly, but soon after I started cramping. I was in terrible pain. I was told this was normal and it would go away in a few days, which it did. Years went by when I started to notice my ovulation cycles were starting to become more and more unpleasant. Till this day and the start of 2014, my pain varies from 7 to a 10 (on a scale from 1-10) for the first two days. Some months, in order for me to walk, I have to hunch over to relive some of the pain. I also stay in my bed (whenever possible) in a fetal position and cry until the over the counter medications start to ease my pain. My menstrual cycles are now heavy the first 2-3 days and I experience terrible cramps. I’ve had to leave work early in pain and in tears, just to go home and take medicine.
I have spoken to my current doctor and she’s had me do a couple ultrasounds, in which they show my uterus is that of a 3 month pregnant woman. Nothing has been done for me so far. I just deal with the pain every month, twice a month during ovulation and menstrual cycles.
I finally Googled side effects of the Essure and clicked other links, besides Essure’s main web page and found that I am NOT ALONE, which made me very emotional. All this time I thought something was wrong with ME, but I was wrong, something is wrong with a lot of us. This procedure has caused us years of pain and suffering. It’s caused me time I could have been spending with my children because the pain is so bad, I’d rather be left alone at times. After my research, I am now convinced that the coil in my body is the problem and maybe now I can get the help I need, hopefully.
Maria Campbell Lemoore, CA