Why is there so much confusion around the Essure permanent contraceptive implant?

Essure has been described as many things; Not an IUD, is an IUD, a type of IUD, nothing like an IUD, a female contraceptive device, permanent sterilisation, an alternative to sterilisation.

It has also been described in being placed in many differing locations, depending on who you talk to. It’s high up in the tubes, up into the ovaries, nowhere near the uterus, nowhere near the ovaries. 

Which is it?

As soon as one explains how it was inserted, via hysteroscope, it’s assumed it’s an IUD.  Then try explaining there is no string!

Call it a permanent implant and it’s assumed the location is the arm. Call it a coil? Copper IUD is the assumption.

We have a study of the studies calling the device a IUD, and Ministry of Health saying it’s nothing like an IUD.

Essure: The IUD story we should have seen coming. 

https://scholarship.richmond.edu/hs-capstones/2/

To date, MoH have not put out an official notification concerning the recall of the device, nor have they supplied any documentation to physicians or specialists regarding the device and its plethora of side effects.

The only health site in New Zealand (other than Medsafe) to write anything about Essure is contraceptive site, Protected and Proud, sponsored by Bayer, the manufacturer of Essure. Unfortunately this lacked any useful information for users of Essure, and like everyone else just points the user to their GP.

Unfortunately doctors have nothing to rely on. There is no one responsible for providing them with any information around this device.

What is Essure and how is it different to an IUD?