Analysis of pain and satisfaction with office-based hysteroscopic sterilization

Objective: To assess pain and patient satisfaction with office-based hysteroscopic sterilization. Design: This prospective, observational study was designed to assess patient pain perception and satisfaction with office-based hysteroscopic sterilization using the Essure device (Conceptus, Mountain View, CA). Setting: Faculty practice office at an inner-city urban medical center. Patient(s): Women seeking hysteroscopic sterilization. Intervention(s): Office hysteroscopic sterilization under local anesthesia. Main Outcome Measure(s): Pain assessed at the time of the procedure by a 0-10 visual scale and satisfaction by a 1-5 scale. Result(s): From June 2003 to June 2006, 209 patients were recruited. The mean scores for average procedural pain, most procedural pain, and average menstrual pain were 2.6 ± 2.1, 3.3 ± 2.5, and 3.6 ± 2.6, respectively. Standardized pain scores revealed that 149 subjects (70%) experienced average pain that was less than or equal to the pain experienced with their menses. Mean satisfaction rating for the procedure was 4.7 ± 0.71. Conclusion(s): Office-based hysteroscopic sterilization performed with local anesthesia alone is well tolerated, and patients are satisfied with this method for permanent sterilization.