May 7, 2009 7:59 pm US/Eastern
Go! NY Report: 'Essure' Permanent Birth Control
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
The economic downturn is making some couples think twice about having children.
In fact, some doctors say they're seeing more women opt for permanent birth control.
For women seeking a permanent solution to birth control, tubal ligation – commonly known as "having your tubes tied" – was the only option until recently.
Now, a new procedure is gaining popularity, and it doesn't require surgery.
"I have a daughter and a grandbaby," Jackie Fitzgerald said.
At 42 years old, Fitzgerald was sure she didn't want to have any more children.
"My husband's 53, and we decided we needed to do this," she said.
Fitzgerald was looking for a method of contraception that would be hassle-free and inexpensive.
"I just wanted to do something permanent so I didn't have to work about that – taking that birth control pill," Fitzgerald says.
Her doctor recommended "Essure," a permanent contraception that's becoming more popular with the economic downturn.
"A lot of people are coming in, making an economic decision," Dr. Richard Salter, OB-GYN, says. "[They're] saying, 'we're through, we don't have to worry about children, we don't want to have to pay for birth control pills, we don't want to have to pay for condoms.'"
Over the last few months, Dr. Salter says he's seen a 50 percent increase in the number of women wanting the "Essure" procedure.
The procedure is simple: a metal micro-insert is placed in each fallopian tube, and eventually scar tissue forms around the insert. This creates a barrier between the egg and sperm.
"There are no incisions to be made, no anesthesia to be used – except for local injection," Dr. Salter says.
In medical terms, the "Essure" procedure is referred to as sterilization, because it cannot be reversed.
So for women who may change their minds and eventually want to have children, it's not the right option.
The procedure takes about 10 minutes and is done right in the doctor's office.
Fitzgerald says she felt some discomfort during the procedure, but experienced no pain thereafter – and it set her mind at ease.
"It's just like bad cramps," she says. "It wasn't bad at all."
Three months after the micro inserts go in, the patient is given a confirmation test to make sure both tubes are blocked.
Some insurance programs cover the procedure, and it can be performed on most women.
The "Essure" procedure is thought to be approximately 99.8 percent effective.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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