San Jose-based Seth A. Stabinsky, M.D., FACOG, Medical Director of EASy GynClinical & Research Centers of North America, Inc., and an expert in thenon-surgical procedure, hailed the announcement. "This method of permanentbirth control is the most important advancement in contraception since oralcontraceptives became available in the U.S. almost 50 years ago."Stabinsky completed a fellowship in endoscopic gynecology at StanfordUniversity, and was recently the medical supervisor for a clinical trial ofover 600 women who underwent hysteroscopic sterilization.

Thanks to Family PACT's and Medi-Cal's recent announcements of coverage forthe revolutionary sterilization procedure, Stabinsky's office and others,that treat women from all socioeconomic backgrounds, will be able toprovide the new treatment to almost any Californian woman who desires nofuture pregnancies.

"Patients who undergo office sterilization almost always return to theirusual activities in less than a day. When properly performed, it is alsomore effective than the traditional approach," said Dr. Stabinsky. "Sucheasy access and recovery, the desire to avoid continued use of hormones,and a partner's reluctance to undergo vasectomy, are probably the strongestmotivators for women in their late thirties and early forties to choosethis method of sterilization. Besides teenagers, this age group is the mostlikely to experience unplanned pregnancy."

According to The Guttmacher Institute, in 2005, California public fundspaid for almost 24,000 births and over 7,500 abortions in women aged 35-44.Many women who ultimately chose to abort may have preferred priorsterilization if the procedure was covered by insurance, office-based, anddid not require general anesthesia, multiple incisions and a 3-4 dayrecovery.

ABOUT FAMILY PACT

Family PACT offers comprehensive family planning services to all Californiaresidents at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, and that lackhealth insurance. The program meets the family planning needs of over halfof California's women ages 13-44.

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