Experimental nonsurgical transcervical sterilization with a custom-designed platinum microcoil

PURPOSE: Investigation of a technique for nonsurgical female sterilization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A custom designed platinum microcoil with Dacron fibers was placed unilaterally into a fallopian tube and uterine horn of 10 rabbits after transcervical selective tubal catheterization with use of fluoroscopic guidance. The contralateral uterus and fallopian tube served as controls. After the rabbits were bred, pregnancy was determined by palpation and confirmed at autopsy. Postmortem histopathologic evaluation of uteri and fallopian tubes was performed. RESULTS: Nine of the 10 rabbits became pregnant. None of the animals had embryos on the microcoil side. Nine rabbits had a total of 45 embryos on the control side. One animal failed to become pregnant on either side. The microcoil remained in good position in all 10 rabbits. There was a microcoil-associated, mild inflammatory tissue response in the uteri and fallopian tubes. CONCLUSION: A platinum occlusion microcoil placed in a uterotubal location has potential as a means for nonsurgical female sterilization.