Migration of the Essure coils occur when the device moves out of position, or embed in other internal organs. If the coils are not in the proper place, then the fallopian tubes may not be fully blocked. This may result in an unwanted pregnancy, or potentially serious health risks for the unborn child. In many cases, these are ectopic pregnancies, where the fetus begins developing in the fallopian tube, which can result in life-threatening complications for the mother.

Another risk of Essure migration is the chance that the coils will go somewhere unwanted. Some women have reported suffering organ punctures, having the coil or coils pass out of the vagina, or having these metal coils move through the body cavity.

Migration problems from Essure can result in damage to other organs and often result in the need for a total hysterectomy.

Another common problem reported as a result of Essure side effects is irregular bleeding.While the manufacturer warns that there may be some spotting and irregular menstrual activities for a short time after the device is implanted, some women have reported excessive amounts of bleeding from Essure. In severe cases, this may result in the need for hospitalization and serious medical emergencies as a result of blood loss.

In some cases, the Essure bleeding problems have continued for years, requiring the removal of the implants, psychological stress and trauma. Bleeding side effects from Essure may lead to a severe impact on the woman’s overall enjoyment of life, and there is no guarantee that the bleeding will stop once they are removed unless that removal involves a total hysterectomy.

Many of the most serious complications associated with Essure actually involve an allergic reaction to nickel contained in the device. Essure nickel reactions may result in pain, headaches, fatigue and other problems that may not be immediately linked to the birth control implant.

For years, the manufacturer failed to adequately warn women or the medical community about the link between Essure and nickel allergic reactions.

In August 2011, Conceptus, the original manufacturer of Essure, convinced the FDA to remove nickel contraindications from Essure procedure instructions.

The label warning was removed following a September 2011 study in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology, in which researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in Texas indicated that Essure adverse effects linked to nickel hypersensitivity only likely occurred in 0.01% of cases at most. However, serious doubts about the findings of the study have been raised, following links between typical nickel sensitivity reactions and Essure adverse event reports, many of which the FDA does not consider linked to Essure because of either a lack of information or a lack of a direct, proven, causal link.

It appears that the manufacturer knew or should have known about the potential risk of Essure allergic reactions, yet failed to ensure that adequate warnings were provided.

In the event that a woman does have the Essure coils removed, in many cases it requires a total hysterectomy. This means that the woman is permanently sterile as a result. In addition, hysterectomies can cause their own problems and side effects, including hormonal problems and surgical complications.However, some Essure activists urge women considering the removal to see a specialist, as it may be possible to have them removed via partial hysterectomy, or a process known as a salpingectomy, which involves removal of one or both fallopian tubes.

While the Essure coils can be removed without any damage in some cases, instances involving Essure migration, where the coils are no longer located in the fallopian tubes, may require the physicians to locate the device elsewhere in the body. If the coils either cannot be found, or are in a location where removal is inadvisable due to health risks, women may be left in a position where Essure is not removable.