Adiana Permanent Birth Control

No Longer Available

Adiana was a type of permanent birth control for women. The manufacturing, sale, and distribution of Adiana was discontinued in 2012 for a variety of reasons. If you already have Adiana and are experiencing no unwanted side effects, then there is no cause for concern.

Adiana permanent birth control
Dawn Stacey

The Adiana Procedure

The Adiana procedure was what's known as a hysteroscopic sterilization procedure. For a time, such procedures were applauded as a novel way to provide women with permanent sterilization without invasive surgery.

The Adiana procedure (and a very similar procedure called Essure) allowed women to "get their tubes tied" without an abdominal incision. These procedures, which accessed the fallopian tubes through the vagina, could be performed in a healthcare provider’s office using local anesthetics. The whole thing could be completed in as little as 15 minutes.

During the procedure, a slim, flexible instrument was passed through the vagina and cervix into the uterus, where it delivered a low level of radiofrequency energy. A small insert (about the size of a rice grain) was left behind in each tube. In the following weeks, scar tissue would build up around the inserts and form a solid blockage. This blockage provided a barrier between eggs and sperm.

Why It's No Longer an Option

The Adiana device was pulled from the market in 2012 because it had a high rate of failure and complications. In the end, the company that manufactured it could not keep up with the legal costs associated with the device.

Essure, a similar device, was also discontinued after a large group of patients reported complications to the FDA.

Complications associated with these procedures include:

  • Pregnancy
  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Hysterectomy
  • Persistent pain
  • Perforation (when the device punctures the fallopian tube)
  • Prolonged heavy bleeding
  • Migration (where the device moved out of place)

If You Already Have Adiana

If you had an Adiana procedure in the past, there is no reason to start worrying now. Reversing an Adiana procedure involves complex surgery, which you will want to avoid unless absolutely necessary. However, if you are experiencing chronic pelvic pain or other unexplained symptoms, you should talk to your healthcare provider.

According to Hologic, Inc., the manufacturer of Adiana permanent birth control, there is no clinical data on the safety or effectiveness of surgical removal.

Effectiveness

Based on three years of clinical data, Adiana was slightly over 98% effective in preventing pregnancy, but this was only once a healthcare provider confirmed that the fallopian tubes were completely blocked. This means that of every 100 women who use Adiana, 1.6 would become pregnant in one year.

Surgical Alternatives

If you are looking for permanent birth control options, there are two surgical options to consider.

Vasectomy

A vasectomy is a minor surgical procedure for people with male reproductive systems. The procedure is quick and can be done in a healthcare provider's office or outpatient clinic.

The healthcare provider makes either a small puncture hole or an incision in the scrotum. They then tie or block off the tubes that carry sperm, so that sperm will no longer enter your ejaculate.

Recovery time is minimal and it is nearly 100% effective at preventing pregnancy. It is designed to be permanent, but can sometimes be reversed.

Tubal Ligation

Tubal ligation is a surgical procedure designed to permanently sterilize people with female reproductive systems. Also known as getting your tubes tied, this procedure involves closing, blocking, cutting, or removing the fallopian tubes. This prevents sperm from reaching your eggs.

While you are under sedation or general anesthesia, the surgeon will make small cuts in your belly in order to reach the fallopian tubes. The procedure can be performed at the same time a woman is giving birth if she is having a Cesarean section or within a few hours or days after a vaginal delivery. The procedure can also be performed several weeks or long after a woman has given birth, and in these cases it is usually done laparoscopically.

Reversing a tubal ligation is a complex and expensive procedure that often doesn't work.

While tubal ligation has a small failure rate, it is permanent. It is not the right choice if you're at all unsure about wanting kids in the future, if you are feeling pressured by someone else to have the procedure, or if you are are under stress of any kind.

Non-Surgical Alternatives

These days, there is absolutely no reason to rush into permanent sterilization. There are several long-term birth control options to choose from. These options are very effective, can last up to 12 years, and can easily be removed if you decide to get pregnant in the future.

Long-term birth control options include:

When these devices expire, you can have them removed and replaced.

4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Palmer SN, Greenberg JA. Transcervical sterilization: A comparison of Essure(r) permanent birth control system and Adiana(r) permanent contraception systemRev Obstet Gynecol. 2009;2(2):84–92.

  2. Murthy P, Edwards J, Pathak M. Update on hysteroscopic sterilisationThe Obstetrician & Gynaecologist. 2017;19:227–35. doi:10.1111/tog.12390 

  3. Anderson TL, Vancaillie TG. The Adiana System for permanent contraception: Safety and efficacy at 3 years. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2011;18(5):612-616. doi:10.1016/j.jmig.2011.06.002

  4. Planned Parenthood. Birth control.

By Dawn Stacey, PhD, LMHC
Dawn Stacey, PhD, LMHC, is a published author, college professor, and mental health consultant with over 15 years of counseling experience.