Conceptus’ Essure procedure effective for permanent birth control

According to the recently released 2006-08 National Survey of Family Growth by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), one in four women choose permanent birth control. Conceptus, Inc. (NASDAQ:CPTS) wants women to know that its Essure^® permanent birth control procedure has been gaining in popularity, and is a safe and effective solution used by hundreds of thousands of women worldwide.

“When a woman is considering permanent birth control I recommend the Essure procedure”

In the past, tubal ligation - a surgery that requires cutting into the body, general anesthesia and a hospital stay - was the only permanent birth control option available to women. Since 2002, the Essure permanent birth control procedure has been a solution to this invasive surgery, and many women have chosen Essure over tubal ligation. The Essure procedure can be performed in the comfort of a doctor's office in minutes; it does not require surgery, general anesthesia, scarring, burning, hormones or slowing down to recover.

Female permanent birth control is used by 16.7%, or 10.3 million women, and male sterilization (vasectomy) is used by the partners of 6.1%, or 3.7 million women.

"From the CDC data, we can infer that when combined, permanent birth control for both men and women is the single most prevalent form of birth control used today," said Mark Sieczkarek, CEO of Conceptus, Inc.

"When a woman is considering permanent birth control I recommend the Essure procedure," said Dr. Cindy Basinski, a board-certified OB/GYN based in Evansville, Ind. "Women need to be informed about their options, and I'm always glad to bring Essure to their attention. It is proven, easy, and extremely effective. And since it can be performed without anesthesia, Essure allows patients to get back to their family and normal routine quickly."

Since receiving FDA approval in 2002, the Essure procedure has become a trusted solution for more than 435,000 women and their physicians. The Essure procedure is 99.80 percent effective with zero pregnancies reported in four years of clinical trials, making it the most effective permanent birth control available.