Long-term follow-up after successful Essure sterilization: evaluation of patient satisfaction, symptoms, and the influence of negative publicity

Abstract

To evaluate long-term patient satisfaction and symptoms after successful Essure sterilization and the influence of negative publicity on patients' opinion. Survey study. Two nonacademic hospitals. All 924 women who underwent successful Essure sterilization between 2003 and2009. A questionnaire was sent between 2008 and 2010 and in2018. Patient satisfaction, symptoms, and the influence of negative publicity on patients' opinion of Essure sterilization. After a median follow-up of 29months, 689 of 924 women (74.6%) responded to the first questionnaire. Of these women, 673 of 689 (97.7%) was satisfied with their Essure sterilization and 607 of 689 (88.1%) recommended Essure sterilization to other women. Of the 689 women, 71 (10.3%) reported having symptoms after Essure sterilization for which they had to consult a physician. Most reported symptoms were menstrual and abdominal pain. After a median follow-up of 144months, 317 of 577 women (54.9%) responded to the second questionnaire. A total of 157 of 317 (49.5%) women reported having symptoms and in 51 (16.1%) women the Essure devices were surgically removed. Among these women, 29 (57%) reported that their symptoms disappeared afterward and 33 of 51 (65%) women reported that negative publicity had somehow affected their decision to undergo surgery. After a follow-up of 144months, approximately 50% of the women reported having symptoms and 16% underwent Essure removal surgery. Publicity had a negative influence on patients' opinion of Essure sterilization, as well as an effect on the decision-making process regarding Essure removal. These data are important when facing women with possible Essure-related complaints.