Adiana Provides a New Way to Get You All Tied Up

According to a study published in this week’s Obstetrics and Gynecology journal, the Adiana Permanent Contraception system has been found to be effective and rated comfortable and satisfactory by women.

According to Hologic, Inc, the manufacturer, Adiana is a novel, two-step approach to permanent contraception that is a minimally-invasive, non-incisional sterilization alternative. Through a catheter positioned inside the opening of a woman’s fallopian tube, bi-polar radiofrequency removes a thin layer of cells. Next, the catheter delivers an implantable, soft “matrix,” (smaller than a grain of rice). Healthy tissue will grow on and around the matrix to create a complete a permanent blockage. The whole procedure takes about 15 minutes to complete.

Thierry Vancaillie, of the Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney, Australia, and colleagues evaluated the system in 645 women. They found that placement was successful in 94.7% of all women, and both fallopian tubes became completely blocked in 88.4% of the women. Cramping was the most common adverse event (reported by 24.9% of patients on the day of the procedure). One-year pregnancy prevention rate (derived from life tables) was 98.9%. Finally, follow-up during the 1-year contraception reliance phase revealed that 99% of women were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the procedure, and the same proportion rated their comfort as “very good” or “excellent.” The researchers conclude: “When used appropriately in properly counseled patients, [this]transcervical sterilization system provides a low-risk, convenient option for permanent sterilization.”

In December of 2007, the FDA Obstetrics and Gynecology Devices Advisory Panel approved the recommendation for the pre-market application for Adiana Permanent Contraception for female sterilization. It is now up to the FDA to determine when Adiana will be made available to the public.

• All About Tubal Ligation



• Essure Hysteroscopic Sterilization
  (the only currently FDA-approved non-incisional sterilization method. The Adiana procedure would be similar to the Essure procedure).