You sneeze, laugh too hard, or cough—and urine leaks out. This type of urinary leakage is, unfortunately, fairly common among women, but we consider it anything but normal. Here’s why it happens and how we can help.
When you cast about for a long-term birth control solution, you settled on Essure®, which permanently blocked your fallopian tubes without a surgical procedure. Unfortunately, some women developed complications due to these devices, which prompted the manufacturer to discontinue the product in December 2018.
If you’re wondering what your next steps are and whether you should opt for Essure removal, Dr. Fernando Otero and our team at Women’s Clinic of the Rio Grande Valley have outlined circumstances when this step may be appropriate.
There are varied adverse side effects due to Essure, which the FDA tracked diligently. From 2000 to 2021, the organization reports the following side effects and the number of women who experienced them:
Another problem with Essure were reported pregnancies, which totaled 4,509 between 2002 and 2021. Sadly, some of these were ectopic pregnancies.
While these numbers may seem alarming, it’s important to point out that a majority of women who received Essure did not experience any adverse side effects.
If you’re considering Essure removal, we first want to point out that, unlike the initial insertion procedure, this involves surgery. And a very tricky surgery, at that.
If you’re experiencing quality-of-life symptoms related to your Essure devices, and you want them removed, it’s terribly important that you find a provider who has extensive experience with the Essure removal procedure.
Our own Dr. Otero is such a provider, and he understands the intricacies of the procedure. Done incorrectly, an Essure removal can leave you with a new set of adverse side effects, as the coils can break.
To avoid this and successfully remove your Essure devices, Dr. Otero fully evaluates the condition and location of the devices beforehand and then chooses one of several removal options, including:
As you can see, the decision to have your Essure removed is one you shouldn’t take lightly, but it’s also one that may help you find much-needed relief if you’re having problems.
A good way to determine your best course of action is to sit down with Dr. Otero for a consultation. To get started, contact one of our offices in McAllen or Edinburg, Texas, to set up an appointment.
You Might Also Enjoy...
You sneeze, laugh too hard, or cough—and urine leaks out. This type of urinary leakage is, unfortunately, fairly common among women, but we consider it anything but normal. Here’s why it happens and how we can help.
One in five people in the United States has a sexually transmitted infection at any given time and, in women, these infections can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease. Here’s how we can resolve both issues.
You’re not keen on the idea of using hormones to prevent pregnancy, so you'd like to explore your options in barrier methods. Luckily, there are several to choose from, and we review five barrier options here.
Whether it’s your first pregnancy or you're adding to a growing family, having a birth plan in place can help ease your mind and facilitate your labor and delivery when the time comes.
Removing reproductive organs is likely not your first choice, but there can come a time when they represent more of a liability than an asset. Here’s a look at what you should know about life after a hysterectomy.
Up to 75% of women develop uterine fibroids, and most don’t experience any symptoms or require treatment. There are times, however, when fibroids can become problematic, and we review the signs here.