What Is Essure Reversal and How Much Does It Cost?

November 1, 2022

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Since Essure was first released, more than 750,000 patients worldwide have had the device implanted. Although the devices seemed to be a miracle option at first, it soon became apparent that it was causing problems for many patients.

Maybe you are interested

If you were one of the patients who received an essure device, you may now be looking for a way to reverse the procedure.

Reading: How much is essure without insurance

essure reversal is possible and you may be able to get pregnant naturally afterwards. Read on to learn more about the procedure and how much you can expect to pay for a reversal.

what is essure?

Before we get into the essure reversal procedure, let’s talk a little about what it is.

essure was a permanent sterilization device that was approved by the fda in 2002 and was sold in the united states until 2018. the device was designed to block the fallopian tubes, preventing an egg from traveling down them to be fertilized.

essure was a small, spring-like device that a doctor could insert into the fallopian tubes. this procedure can sometimes be done in a doctor’s office and without anesthesia, since a doctor could insert the coils through the vagina. over time, the body would grow scar tissue around these coils, permanently blocking the fallopian tubes.

dangers of the product

When it was first approved, essure seemed like a safe, effective, and convenient way for women to get sterilized. Unfortunately, patients soon began reporting serious problems after receiving an essure implant.

At the milder end of the spectrum, patients reported headaches, fatigue, hair loss, and pain in the abdomen, back, and pelvis. some people reported a change in weight and others noted that they experienced more mood swings.

some people, however, experienced much more serious consequences. some patients became pregnant even with essure in place and others had allergic reactions to the inserts. others found that their inserts had drifted into their abdominal or pelvic cavities, and some found that their essure device had punctured their fallopian tubes or uterus.

do you need it removed?

If you have an essure device, you may be wondering if you need to remove it. According to the FDA, as long as you don’t have any issues with it, it should be safe for you to leave your Essure in place. there is no evidence that the device suddenly starts causing problems if it hasn’t done so by this point.

however, it’s completely understandable that he felt safer removing the essure device. Unfortunately, this removal will involve a surgical procedure as there is scar tissue around your device. your doctor can remove it, but it’s not as simple as removing it from your fallopian tube.

can essure be reversed?

of course, you may have an additional reason for wanting your essure device removed. If you’ve changed your mind about wanting to get pregnant again after receiving your Essure device, you may be wondering if the procedure can be reversed. Since the device blocks the fallopian tubes, is it possible to get pregnant again naturally?

rest assured that essure can be reversed and you may be able to get pregnant afterwards. During this procedure, your doctor will remove the section of your fallopian tubes that the Essure device sits on. They will then reconnect the healthy ends of the fallopian tubes so they can heal again in one continuous passage.

your age

The success or otherwise of essure reversal surgery will depend on a number of factors. And while there is no guarantee of subsequent pregnancy, certain factors can make it more likely that you will get pregnant. One of the most important factors is how old you are at the time of your reversal procedure.

In general, once you’re past age 35, pregnancy is more at risk, but these risks don’t increase dramatically until after age 42. if you become pregnant, the chances of your child being born with some kind of defect go up. This does not mean that a healthy pregnancy is impossible by any means, but the younger you are, the more likely you are to have a successful procedure.

how long have you had essure

The other big factor that can impact the success of your procedure is how long you’ve had your Essure device. The longer the device is in your body, the more scar tissue your body forms around it (to an extent). More scar tissue means that your doctor may have a harder time getting clean margins on your fallopian tubes with enough room to reconnect them.

If you think you might get pregnant again after a sterilization procedure, it’s important to talk to your doctor as soon as possible. The sooner a reversal procedure is established, the less permanent damage there will be to the fallopian tubes. even a few months could give you a better chance of having a natural pregnancy in the future.

your overall fertility

Of course, the presence or absence of an essure device is only part of the overall question of can you get pregnant. even if you didn’t have an essure device, you may have some underlying fertility issues that would make it difficult to get pregnant. Also, your partner may have some fertility problems that have nothing to do with your essure.

Your overall fertility will be a very important factor in determining if you can get pregnant after an essure removal. If you’re considering a reversal procedure, it may be a good idea to have some fertility tests done beforehand. If you or your partner have unrelated fertility problems, IVF or similar options may be a better option for you.

will insurance pay for the reversal?

One of the first questions patients ask about an essure reversal procedure is how much they will have to pay. Surgery is expensive, especially if your insurance doesn’t pay for it, and many patients can’t afford the costs. Unfortunately, most insurance companies will not pay for an essure reversal procedure.

Because essure is considered a dangerous medical device, your insurance company may pay for the removal, since the procedure is not your fault. but a reversal procedure is considered a fertility procedure and is therefore classified as an elective surgery. Since it’s not medically necessary, you may have to pay out of pocket for the procedure.

cost of the procedure

so how much will you end up paying for your essure reversal surgery?

If you can pay for your procedure out of pocket, it will cost you $8,500, nearly half the cost of a single IVF cycle. our patients experience a 35 to 40 percent chance of pregnancy after an essure reversal procedure.

If you are unable to pay cash for your procedure, we offer financing options. the cost of the procedure will rise to $9,100 if you choose to finance it, since you will not get the discount in cash. however, it is still significantly cheaper than IVF, which can cost around $14,000 for a single cycle.

legal action

Now you may be wondering why you have to pay for a reversal procedure out of pocket if you have a defective medical device. Many patients have filed lawsuits against Bayer, the company that makes Essure, alleging negligence. In fact, these lawsuits are largely the reason the devices are no longer sold in the United States.

If you’ve had problems with your essure device, you may be entitled to compensation from one of these class action lawsuits. this may help offset or cover the cost of your removal or reversal procedure. If you think you may be eligible for this compensation, it’s a good idea to speak with an attorney who specializes in health law.

recovery timeline

If you have an essure reversal procedure, you will need to know how long the recovery process will take. Most essure reversals can be performed as laparoscopic procedures. this means your doctor will use thin instruments inserted through small incisions in your abdomen, rather than doing a full open surgery.

Recovery from an essure reversal procedure typically takes about two weeks. After the first week, you should be able to go to work, as long as your job allows you to sit most of the time and doesn’t require heavy lifting. You can also drive and perform other day-to-day tasks after the first few days of recovery.

learn more about essure rollback

Essure seemed like a promising form of permanent birth control, but it wound up causing problems for a lot of patients. Essure reversal is possible, and as many as 40 percent of patients can have a natural pregnancy after the procedure.