*Please Note: The manufacturing, sale and distribution of Adiana was discontinued in April 2012:Why Adiana Has Been Discontinued
Definition of Adiana Permanent Birth Control:
Adiana is a permanent birth control method that received FDA approval on July 8, 2009. This contraceptive option is a simple, safe, hormone-free procedure that permanently prevents pregnancy. Adiana was designed to be a less-invasive alternative to tubal ligation and is comparable to having your tubes tied. It works by stimulating your body's own tissue to grow in and around tiny, soft inserts that are placed inside your fallopian tubes.
Steps of the Adiana Procedure:
The Adiana procedure consists of four steps that do not involve an incision and can be performed in a doctor’s office using local anesthesia in as little as 15 minutes:
- Step 1: A slim, flexible instrument is passed through the vagina and cervix into the uterus and delivers a low level of radiofrequency energy to a small section of each fallopian tube. This energy generates heat to create a superficial lesion.
- Step 2: A small, soft insert (about the size of a rice grain) is then placed in each of the fallopian tubes exactly where the energy was applied.
- Step 3: New tissue begins to form around the Adiana inserts, and this tissue will completely block the fallopian tubes, permanently preventing conception. A woman must use temporary birth control (like male condoms, female condoms, the sponge or spermicide) during the three months following the procedure while the new tissue grows.
- Step 4: At 3 months, a hysterosalpingogram test is performed to confirm that your tubes are fully blocked. This test will ensure that the Adiana permanent birth control procedure has been successful.
Advantages of Adiana Permanent Birth Control:
- Quick recovery – there are no incisions to heal and no recovery time from general anesthesia. Most women can return to their normal activities within a day and report little to no discomfort.
- Leaves nothing in your uterus - the Adiana inserts are completely enclosed inside the fallopian tubes, leaving nothing in your uterus that might limit your options for future gynecologic tests or procedures.
- Adiana contains no hormones and the inserts are made of a safe, medical-grade silicone.
- The Adiana procedure can be performed 3 months after giving birth.
- May help stop menorrhagia (unusually heavy or prolonged menstrual periods), especially when combined with NovaSure Endometrial Ablation
Risks/Side Effects of Adiana:
- A small risk of pregnancy (including ectopic pregnancy).
- Failure to achieve correct placement of inserts in one or both fallopian tubes, or that one or both tubes will not be completely blocked (if any of these occur, Adiana will not reliably protect against pregnancy).
- Side effects during or immediately after the procedure can include mild to moderate cramping, vaginal spotting or bleeding, pelvic or back pain and/or nausea.
Adiana Tubal Reversal:
Adiana should be considered permanent and is not reversible. According to Hologic, Inc. Women's Health Company, the manufacturer of Adiana permanent birth control, there is no data on the safety or effectiveness of any surgical attempt to reverse the Adiana procedure.
Effectiveness of Adiana Permanent Birth Control:
Based on 3 years of clinical data, Adiana is 98.4% effective in preventing pregnancy, but this is only once your doctor confirms that your fallopian tubes are completely blocked. This means that of every 100 women who use Adiana, 1.6 will become pregnant in one year.
Is Adiana Right For Me?:
If you think there is any chance that you want to have children in the future, Adiana permanent birth control may not be right for you. Adiana may also not be the right choice if you're feeling pressured by someone else to have the procedure. Also, because the Adiana procedure is a major decision (as it can't be reversed), you shouldn’t make this choice if you’re under stress or in the middle of a major life change (like during a divorce or after a miscarriage).
Women Who May Not Be Adiana Candidates:
Unfortunately, due to certain medical conditions, you may not be able to use Adiana permanent birth control. Hologic, Inc. explains that you can NOT have the Adiana procedure if you:
- Have something abnormal about your uterus that could prevent your doctor from performing the procedure.
- Cannot have the procedure done in both fallopian tubes (even if one of your tubes is already blocked or if you only have one tube).
- Have already had a tubal ligation or had your tubes tied.
- Have any personal doubts about ending your fertility.
- Are taking immunosuppressive medicines (any drugs that prevent or block your body's natural defenses).
- Have an allergy to the contrast fluid that is used during the Adiana Hysterosalpingogram Confirmation Test after 3 months have passed since the procedure.
Additionally, you may have to delay seeking the Adiana permanent birth control procedure if:
- You have been pregnant or given birth in the last 3 months.
- You are currently pregnant (or suspect you might be pregnant).
- You have recently had or now actively have a pelvic infection.
Doctors need to be certified to perform the Adiana permanent birth control procedure, so if you are interested in having the Adiana contraceptive procedure done, a Physician Locator Line has been set up help you find a doctor in your area who performs the Adiana procedure.
Source:
Hologic, Inc. Adiana Permanent Contraception Website. Accessed March 25, 2010. www.adiana.com
