Essure Sterilisation Method concerns gynaecologists

Gynaecologists in the Netherlands are concerned about the Essure sterilisation method. A growing group of women have encountered problems after sterilisation with this product, which consists of small metal springs placed into the ovarian tubes. 

EenVandaag (OneToday, Dutch current affairs) found out that symptoms can be so severe and long-lasting that now gynaecologists are specially trained to remove the springs. The Facebook group ‘Essure Problems The Netherlands’ says this procedure has been done to over 160 women in the Netherlands.

“Training gynaecologists is needed because of the chance of the springs breaking when removed,” says Bas Veersema, head of the gynaecology department of University Medical Centre Utrecht. “Bits left behind in the abdominal cavity may cause new problems.” In 2002, Veersema was one of the first gynaecologists to sterilise women with Essure in the Netherlands. He wrote a doctoral thesis about the method. He remains positive about the sterilisation method which has been used on 25,000 women in the Netherlands, but he is concerned about the side-effects. Women complain, among other things, about severe pains, prolonged haemorrhaging, allergies and perforations. “If the group of women with complaints gets too large – and we can’t explain the complaints by other causes than the Essure springs – we have a problem.”

Reports

EenVandaag already mentioned the problems with Essure in May, 2015 when 21 women had reported to the Dutch Healthcare Inspectorate. By now, the Healthcare Inspectorate has received some 40 reports of women who have complaints after being sterilised with the Essure method. But this appears to be only the tip of the iceberg. Gynaecologist Bas Veersema alone has removed Essure springs with over 100 women. “There are women with uterine problems who never should have had the springs implanted,” says Veersema.

E-sisters

Francesca Bagchus is one of the women who have been sterilised with Essure. She set up the Facebook group ‘Essure Problems The Netherlands’, where there was a rush of reports from fellow-sufferers who were sharing the complaints. Recently Bagchus was operated on for the sixth time after her sterilisation. Women from other European countries and the United States can apply to her for information. “We support each other like ‘E-sisters’. We help one another where we can and look out for what happens elsewhere.”

Research

In the USA, the FDA, the agency that controls the quality of medical drugs and products, has received thousands of complaints about Essure. Today, FDA researchers are looking into the safety of the Essure sterilisation method. Results are expected next month.