Permanent Contraception System Provides Lifetime Protection from Pregnancy

The Adiana permanent contraception system offers a safe, simple, and effective alternative to tubal ligation. First, low-level bipolar radiofrequency (RF) energy is applied to the opening of the patient's fallopian tube, removing a one-centimeter section of endothelial cells. A catheter then places a soft polymer implant (about the size of a grain of rice) within the prepared section of the tube; the procedure is then repeated on the other fallopian tube. During the three months following the procedure, the patient continues to use temporary birth control while new tissue grows in and around the Adiana inserts, eventually blocking the fallopian tubes. A subsequent confirmatory hysterosalpingogram (HSG) dye test is conducted at three months postprocedure to ensure the fallopian tubes are completely blocked. The procedure generally requires only local anesthesia, and can be performed in a physician's office. Patients are normally able to return to work or resume their everyday activities within a day. The Adiana permanent contraception system is a product of Hologic (Bedford, MA, USA), and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"Many women seek relief from the uncertainty and hassle of temporary birth control methods once they know their childbearing is complete. However, few know that permanent contraception is available without incisions, the use of general anesthesia, or need for lengthy hospital stays,” said Tony Kingsley, senior vice president of gynecological surgical products at Hologic. "With the Adiana permanent contraception system, we are very excited to be able to offer these women a new alternative for their long-term contraception needs.”

"While tubal ligation is the most common form of permanent contraception used throughout the world, hysteroscopic procedures such as those employing the Adiana permanent contraception system enable women to choose lifetime protection from pregnancy without the risks of general anesthesia and the longer recovery periods associated with traditional sterilization procedures,” said Ted Anderson, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN, USA), and clinical investigator of the pivotal clinical trial for approval by the FDA.

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