Permanent Contraception Options

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Essure Procedure

UW Health providers in Madison, Wisconsin work with women of all ages to help them determine the contraception methods that are most appropriate for them. When a woman decides that a permanent birth control method is best for her situation, there are options to chose from.
Surgical Treatment

For women who know they do not ever want to get pregnant, or those who know they are done having children, surgery has traditionally been the option for permanent birth control.
Though today's methods are minimally invasive, tubal ligations usually require a few days of rest at home to recover.

A new alternative to tubal ligation gives the benefits of permanent birth control without the need for incisions or general anesthesia. This method, called Essure®, involves inserting spring-like coils called micro-inserts into the fallopian tubes, where over they form a scar, or barrier, that prevents sperm from reaching the egg. An X-ray is required three months later to confirm blockage of the tubes has occurred.
The process takes place in an OB/Gyn office or outpatient surgery center and takes about 15-30 minutes. Since they were FDA-approved, the micro-inserts have had a 99.8 percent effectiveness rating.