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Mothers warning others about common birth control they say has ruined their lives

Posted at 11:26 AM, Nov 14, 2014
and last updated 2014-11-14 13:26:07-05

OKLAHOMA CITY – Women are warning others about a popular method of birth control they say has ruined their lives.

KFOR-TV reported a group of Oklahoma woman are now working to get it off the market.

It’s called Essure and is sold as a non-hormonal method of permanent birth control for women who do not want to have any more children.

The coil-like device is inserted into the Fallopian tubes by a gynecologist and then the woman’s uterine tissue grows into the metal coils, blocking conception.

“It sounded like a good thing to me. I mean, I’ve got a busy life. I’ve got five kids,” Crystal Plumlee told KFOR-TV.

She said she chose Essure because it was the most affordable, effective option.

Plumlee is now warning other women, saying it’s not worth it in the long run.

She now deals with joint pain, chronic fatigue, weight gain, irregular heavy menstrual cycles and debilitating headaches, according to KFOR-TV.

“There are some people who are having success with it but I would not want to gamble that,” she told KFOR-TV. “I’m not a gambler. Unfortunately this is something I gambled with and I’ve made one of the biggest mistakes of my life.”

Activist Erin Brockovich has also joined in the fight, launching a website for women who have suffered adverse effects because of Essure.

MORE: See the full story from KFOR-TV hereBy Ali Meyer for KFOR-TV