Anxiety as This Contraceptive is Proven Dangerous to Women

Amid widespread use of various family planning methods in Kenya, a red flag has been raised over the use of a contraceptive known as Essure.

A US-based agency responsible for protecting and promoting public health, on Monday warned women against using Essure contraceptive following numerous reports on negative effects of the family planning method.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicated that women had complained of unintended pregnancies, miscarriages, stillbirths, severe pain and bleeding after an Essure implantation.

The birth control method, which was introduced into the Kenyan market in 2011, has reportedly recorded over 5,000 cases of women who had been adversely affected in the US.

Following the negative impact, FDA directed Essure to immediately introduce a black warning label in order to caution users on the life threatening effects of the contraceptive.

Essure is a permanent form of birth control that involves the insertion of flexible coils through the vagina, to the cervix then into the fallopian tubes.

It is a non-surgical method which forms a natural barrier, preventing sperm from reaching the egg.

The procedure is preferred because it can be done within 10 minutes with no cut.

According to a survey carried out in Nairobi, the use of contraceptives among women and girls stood at 71.1 percent with the awareness levels on the various birth control methods remaining low.