Conceptus Inc., Developer of the Essure Procedure, Recognizes World Contraception Day and Celebrates Continued Leadership

Conceptus, Inc. (NASDAQ:CPTS), a leader in the design and development of innovative women's healthcare, recognizes September 26th as World Contraception Day, and shares its mission of raising awareness of contraception by improving education about reproductive health.

World Contraception Day is part of a global campaign that encourages people to talk about sex, contraception and family planning, so they can make informed decisions on sexual and reproductive health. This year's motto is "Your Life, Your Voice: Talk Contraception."

The Essure procedure is a minimally invasive permanent birth control solution for women that doesn’t involve any hormones or cutting, and has been FDA approved and in use since 2002. During the 10-minute procedure, small, flexible micro-inserts are placed in a woman’s fallopian tubes. Over the next three months, the body forms a natural barrier around the inserts, preventing sperm from meeting an egg.

"It is important for women to understand all of their options when it comes to birth control, and doctors and patients need to consider the continuum of birth control. Different methods of birth control are appropriate at different life stages. What is an optimal solution for women in their 20s or early 30s may not be the right solution for somebody in their late 30s or 40s,” said Christopher Olson, OB/GYN and president of Women’s Center for Health in Naperville, IL. “For example, when women know their families are complete, they often want a permanent solution so they can get off hormones. For these women, I recommend Essure. In addition to being permanent, it has the added benefit of a shorter recovery time, so they can return to their families the same day."

The Essure procedure is 99.8 percent effective based on four years of follow up, and is the only birth control procedure with zero pregnancies in clinical trials. More than 315,000 women worldwide have undergone the procedure.

“We estimate that there are upwards of 7.5 million women who remain on temporary birth control, even though they've decided that their families are complete. We want to let them know that the Essure procedure provides them with a better solution for that stage of their life," said Mark Sieczkarek, president and CEO of Conceptus. "World Contraception Day is a great event that raises awareness for all birth control options and family planning education. We encourage patients to become their own health advocates, and educate themselves by speaking to their physicians about all the options.”

Essure is covered by most insurance plans, and when it is performed in a doctor’s office the cost may be as low as a simple co-pay. It is available in United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Middle East.

About the Essure Procedure:

The Essure procedure, FDA approved since 2002, is a permanent birth control method that can be performed in the comfort of a physician’s office in about 10 minutes (average hysteroscopic time) without hormones, cutting, burning or the risks associated with general anesthesia or tubal ligation. Small, flexible micro-inserts are placed in a woman’s fallopian tubes through the cervix without incisions. Over the next three months, the body forms a natural barrier around the micro-inserts to prevent sperm from reaching the egg. Essure is 99.8% effective based on four years of follow up, with zero pregnancies reported in clinical trials. The procedure is covered by most insurance plans, and when it is performed in a doctor’s office the cost may be as low as a simple co-pay.

Three months after the Essure procedure, a doctor performs an Essure Confirmation Test to confirm that the fallopian tubes are fully blocked, and that the patient can rely on Essure for permanent birth control. Essure has been proven and trusted by physicians since 2002, with more than 315,000 women worldwide having undergone the Essure procedure.

Essure and Conceptus are registered trademarks of Conceptus Inc. (NASDAQ:CPTS)

About World Contraception Day:

World Contraception Day is a worldwide campaign with a vision for a world where every pregnancy is wanted. Its mission is to improve awareness of contraception to enable young people to make informed decisions on sexual and reproductive health.

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