FDA Approves New, Permanent Birth Control Method

DENVER (CBS) ― Until recently, women looking for permanent birth control had to have surgery to have their tubes tied. But a new technique just approved by the Food and Drug Administration offers permanent birth control without an operation, CBS station KCNC-TV reports.

The procedure can be done in the doctor's office with no cutting, no surgery, and a quick recovery. It's called Adiana. There are no drugs, no hormones, and it's considered safe and found to be more than 98 percent effective as permanent birth control.

Amanda Belena, 35, had a tough time delivering her two girls. Her doctor told her she should not have any more children, so she looked for a permanent solution.

"Knowing that I can't get pregnant no matter what happens was the most important factor," Belena said.

Instead of having surgery to have her tubes tied she chose the new Adiana system. It requires only local anesthesia and it takes about 10 minutes. An instrument delivers low-level radiofrequency energy to each fallopian tube. A tiny insert, about the size of a grain of rice, is then placed in each tube.

"We place this little spongy material inside, we kind of drop it there," Dr. Jacques Moritz with Roosevelt Hospital said. "Then the body forms scar tissue around the spongy material and just seals everything shut."

The procedure has been around for less than a year and is considered permanent -- meaning it's not reversible.

It takes about three months for the tissue to grow and close off the tubes. Until that time another method of birth control will have to be used. A dye test is done to make sure the procedure worked.

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