Essure vs Tubal ligation-please offer any advice you have!

So, I'm super-excited at the mo because I have finally decided to get fixed once and for all. Once this gets done it will be a dream come true that I've been harboring since forever.

Now my only dilemma lies in whether I should go for Essure or a tubal. I've read tons about both procedures and pretty much all I can find are testimonials from moos who got fixed after having chyld #X and a lot of them seem to complain about something. I can't take a complaint seriously when it's either a moo lowing about having regrets or how she has all these physical symptoms after giving birf and having her tubes tied straight after because I'll always assume it was the birf that gave her all these bad symptoms in the first place. It's very hard to come across sober, non-biased reviews.

On the Essure end of the spectrum there is the constant nagging of that Brockovich woman whom I can't take seriously either. Again there are tons of reviews by moos who then went on to regret the procedure and bla bla bla.

Basically, here are my thoughts and questions: Is Essure any better than a tubal ligation in terms of recovery time and scar formation? Is the recovery time significantly shorter with Essure or does it not really make that much of a difference?

How big and/or visible are the scars after a TL, and are there actually any? I'll admit being very vain and I really love my stomach so I don't want livid scars decorating it.

Last but not least, there's the financial aspect to consider. If I wanted to get Essure, I'd have to travel to Holland. The surgery itself is 1450 euros (~£1150, ~$1850), plus I'd have to pay for a plane ticket to get my ass there and a hotel. And the clinic is not in Amsterdam, so there wouldn't be much partying to celebrate my new-found freedom either.
The tubal ligation costs 800 euros (~£630, ~$1000) which is only a little over half the price of Essure and the clinic is a 5 min walk away from where I live now. Is Essure worth all the extra money, time and hassle?

Thanks for reading and I'm looking forward to your advice and input! hankyou

A tubal feels like you have been punched in the gut. The scar is only a couple inches across by the belly button. My mom had a short recovery. After all she had to take care of my brother after she came home from the hospital. As you were saying, a tubal is cheaper and closer to your home. I would go with the tubal despite it being major surgery compared to ensure.

You can use the money that you save by celebrating! :partay

Cheaper and close to home is good.

I had my tubal ligation done laproscopically. No big scar, just a couple of punctures by the belly button. I took it easy for a couple of days and was good.

Essure wasn't around when I did it but I'm sensitive to metals and probably wouldn't have been a candidate. (Not knocking anyone who chose to have it done.) Burning the tubes doesn't involve a foreign body in your body and it's an old method but it's also been around a long time. Also, no need to have a follow up HSG test to make sure your tubes are blocked. They are burned and gone.

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bell flower
I had my tubal ligation done laproscopically.

I forgot to mention in my OP that the TL would be done laparoscopically. up

I got my essure done one decade ago, and it was GREAT. Back then it, along with my novasure, were done while I was under, but from what I hear they can do it in-office now, so that alone is probably worth it.

When I had mine done my surgeon gave me the option of "If the essure cannot be done, do you want the TL?" I said yes. Luckily, the essure went in with no problems, so I didn't need to have the TL, but because there is a chance that the essure won't go in (for whatever reason), I felt a lot of security knowing that when I woke up, one way or another, I would be sterile. Now if you get it in-office, you probably won't have this option, but it's worth thinking about, especially if you're getting an ablation at the same time. (I did. It was the best 2 gifts I've ever given myself in my entire life.) A friend of mine did both in-office only a few months ago and she was forced to keep coming back because there were problems... and while that must have been a pain... she said it was totally worth it.

After effects: after 10 years, I've had zero problems. The only issue I had afterwards was the testing. Because the technicians are used to doing the test on moocows, they have a hard time understanding that the head of the tube is VERY PAINFUL when shoved violently through a non-moo cervix to pump the contrast fluid in so they can take the images. Both myself and my friend agree that the "proof" that it worked was the most miserable part of the whole ordeal. If you can, warn the tech that you have not had kids and to please be aware that your cervix is NOT the size of a doughnut. Hopefully they will try to be more gentle with you.

Other than that, the only issues I've had were those from going off BC pills. (weight gain from lack of estrogen since I'm deficient in it) I've since changed doctors a few times (moving) and they can't see any problems, and can't even tell that the implants are even there. I recommend Essure as a great thing to accompany Novasure. Novasure totaly changed my whole sex life and gives me double the assurance that I can't get preggers. Not only am I 99% sure that no egg can emerge from my tubes, but in the almost impossible case that one did, there is no uterine lining for it to attach to... hence I seriously CANNOT get pregnant. Plus, no more periods! It's amazing, and all without a single cut! If you get one, you might as well get both.

I can't speak on surgial TLs, as I don't know anything about them. When my surgeon discussed it with me, he drew a tiny little mark inside my belly button to show me how big the scar would be if I did it. If the Essure didn't work, it would have been totally worth such a little tiny scar.

Bottom line, do what works for you. The scar should be almost unnoticeable, but it is more complex of a surgery. If the money issue is preventing it - go with the cheaper option... either way, see if you can't get an ablation as part of the package. If you're going under, might as well get it all done if you can.

I had Essure done in the Netherlands. I would recommend either of the two doctors that I worked with.

Like you, I'm really frustrated about the lack of information concerning complications. I don't want the anecdote of my experience to influence decisions when I believe the doctor who told me it was unique in her experience, but I would like for the data to be collected somewhere so that a reliable assessment of risk can be made. We need facts about the procedure which aren't drowned out by the loud voices of the minority who regret getting sterilized.

So I can't offer any suggestions on the procedure itself, but if you do go to the Netherlands, I have opinions on some hospitals/doctors in the Ranstad. Side note, if you're European, shouldn't your national insurance cover medical treatment in another country? I thought this was opened up a few years ago.

Personally I would choose not to be in a hotel when feeling unwell. If I could stay with friends I'd consider it, but there are few things more miserable than being alone in a hotel room feeling lousy.

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yurble
I had Essure done in the Netherlands. I would recommend either of the two doctors that I worked with.

Like you, I'm really frustrated about the lack of information concerning complications. I don't want the anecdote of my experience to influence decisions when I believe the doctor who told me it was unique in her experience, but I would like for the data to be collected somewhere so that a reliable assessment of risk can be made. We need facts about the procedure which aren't drowned out by the loud voices of the minority who regret getting sterilized.

So I can't offer any suggestions on the procedure itself, but if you do go to the Netherlands, I have opinions on some hospitals/doctors in the Ranstad. Side note, if you're European, shouldn't your national insurance cover medical treatment in another country? I thought this was opened up a few years ago.

Personally I would choose not to be in a hotel when feeling unwell. If I could stay with friends I'd consider it, but there are few things more miserable than being alone in a hotel room feeling lousy.

Thanks for that, that's really cool that you have experience with the Netherlands. If you don't mind, could you PM me some info on the clinic you got it done at? I looked at the Bergman and Casa clinics and I don't doubt for one second that both are professional.
In regards to insurance, I am not sure how that works because afaik it's not as straightforward for this type of thing. I don't mind paying either, it's something I want, so I get it, just like I would get a pair of shoes or a coat or a new guitar. But of course it's a bonus if it's cheap!

I looked into getting it done in London because I know the place like the back of my hand and have several friends there at whose place I could stay so that would be great, but the only clinic that I found was the Cadogan clinic but when I emailed them they replied saying they no longer did Essure and gave me a link to another clinic which turned out to be an IVF specialist clinic (WTF?).

I mostly wonder how much of a difference there is between Essure and TL in terms of recovery time because I really don't want to have to chill and not move for like, several weeks. That's my biggest concern alongside scarring. But as was pointed out previously, laparoscopy scars are tiny and in the belly button so that should be ok.
I also wouldn't mind being on my own etc, I'm very good with that, but I wonder how wise it is to get Essure and then jump onto a plane pretty much straightaway. Ah, decisions, decisions...