Conceptus(R) To Promote GYNECARE THERMACHOICE(R) To U.S. Physician Offices

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 10, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Conceptus, Inc. (Nasdaq:CPTS), developer of the Essure® procedure, the most effective non-surgical permanent birth control method available, today announced it will begin promoting GYNECARE THERMACHOICE® ⁽¹⁾ Uterine Balloon Therapy System in U.S. OB/GYN physician offices.  GYNECARE THERMACHOICE® is a global endometrial ablation product that is used to treat excessive uterine bleeding (menorrhagia). The product is manufactured for and marketed by ETHICON™ Women's Health & Urology, a division of Ethicon, Inc.   

"The opportunity to promote both the Essure procedure and GYNECARE THERMACHOICE® to physician offices will enable us to leverage our large, established sales channel," said Mark Sieczkarek, president and chief executive officer of Conceptus. "Since our sales representatives are already familiar with the synergies between GYNECARE THERMACHOICE® and our Essure procedure, we believe they can hit the ground running and begin contributing to the growth of both products." 

About GYNECARE THERMACHOICE®

The GYNECARE THERMACHOICE® Uterine Balloon Therapy system is an outpatient treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) due to benign causes in premenopausal women who have completed childbearing. The treatment uses heat to treat the lining of the uterus during a short, minimally invasive procedure that can be performed with a local anesthetic.

GYNECARE THERMACHOICE® is a registered trademark of Ethicon, Inc. For more complete information on GYNECARE THERMACHOICE® indications, contraindications, warnings and precautions, see the risk information available at www.pelvichealthsolutions.com or a consult with a doctor. 

About the Essure® Procedure

The Essure procedure, FDA approved since 2002, is the first permanent birth control method that can be performed in the comfort of a physician's office in less than 10 minutes (average hysteroscopic time) without hormones, cutting, burning or the risks associated with general anesthesia or tubal ligation. Soft, flexible 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. The Essure procedure is 99.95% effective based on one year of follow up with zero pregnancies reported in clinical trials, making it the most effective form of permanent birth control on the market. The procedure is covered by most insurance plans, and when it is performed in a doctor's office the cost to the patient may be as low as a simple co-pay.