Hysteroscopic sterilization with Essure® device in situ: a challenge?

Hysteroscopic sterilization through the Essure® method is preferably performed in the outpatient department without any form of anesthesia. This approach requires the hysteroscopic skills of the gynecologist to use the vaginoscopic route. Initially, the manufacturer advised to remove any type of intrauterine device (IUD), 1 month before the procedure, to prevent difficult procedures and also to increase the success rate of placement. This observational prospective study analyzed the outcome in women in where the IUD was left in the uterus during the sterilization. During a period of 2 years, all women have been included consecutively in seven public hospitals located in France and the Netherlands. During this procedure, 32 out of 239 IUDs had to be removed to finish the sterilization successfully. The placement success rate was 97%. Placement failures were not related to the IUD being present at the time of the procedure. At confirmation tests 3 months after insertion of the Essure®, only five tubes were still patent. No complications were registered. Pain was recorded, and women responded well on oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug medication. The IUD did not need to be removed before the start of the hysteroscopic sterilization; only in case the procedure could not be completed, the IUD had to be removed during the sterilization itself. Placement rate was 97.1%.