I had the Essure procedure in July 2014. I had a UTI (urinary infection) the day after the procedure that lasted a few days, but apart from that I didn’t realise I was having problems at first. I just thought the pain I was experiencing was just a natural reaction to having the implants and that it would settle down after a couple of weeks.

The first period I had after the procedure was 4 days early and lasted 6 days – again I wasn’t too concerned at this point, I just thought it was an ‘upset’ to my natural cycle because of the procedure. This wasn’t the case and I started to experience more problems: constant pain, worse in my lower left abdomen and an on and off ‘fluttering / vibrating’ sensation in my lower right abdomen; bleeding at ovulation; longer, more painful periods with heavy clotting and tissue loss; pain and bleeding after sex; constantly tired; an occasional metallic taste in my mouth; numbness and tingling in my left leg and foot; weight gain and itching and swelling around the vagina.

I looked on the Essure website and the NHS Choices website to see if I could find any further information but there was nothing about side-effects or after-effects. I contacted PALS at the hospital and they arranged an appointment with a consultant.

At my appointment in September 2014, the consultant told me that none of these problems were a result of having Essure and that I should just attend my HSG appointment to confirm the coils were in place. I was told that if I was still experiencing problems after the HSG, I would have to have further tests to find out what was wrong with me. I was also told that if I didn’t want the HSG, then I wouldn’t be able to see the consultant again and my case would be closed due to ‘no further action required on patient’s part’.

I wasn’t happy at the prospect of having the HSG when I was already in pain all the time; I was concerned this would give me more severe pain and bleeding. I refused to have the HSG and contacted PALS at the hospital again. I was given an appointment to see a different consultant in October 2014. At this appointment, the consultant still refused to believe my problems were due to Essure but he agreed to remove my tubes and the coils (bilateral salpingectomy). As the coils become embedded in the tubes due to the scar tissue, the procedure is not reversible and the tubes have to be removed. (In many cases, the coils have perforated the tubes and surrounding organs, have fragmented and embedded in the womb, or have migrated out of the tubes and never been found.)

I had my salpingectomy in January 2015 and felt better almost immediately. I know it will sound strange to say I felt really good as soon as I woke up from surgery, but I felt clear-headed and very much stronger. I didn’t realise just how tired and ill I had become until I woke up from surgery and felt so good! I went home the same day as I had my surgery and spent a few days at home recovering.