Fifty Years After 'The Pill,' Adiana System Offers a Significant Advance in Birth Control Options

BEDFORD, Mass., May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hologic, Inc., (Hologic or the Company) (Nasdaq: HOLX), a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics products, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, celebrates a new era of birth control options for women today with the availability of its Adiana® permanent contraception system.  

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In the fifty years since "The Pill" was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), numerous temporary birth control options have become available, but many women think only of tubal ligation when they consider permanent contraception. The Adiana system is designed to provide women a minimally invasive, non-incision alternative to tubal ligation.

"The Adiana permanent contraception system represents the latest innovation in a long evolution of improving women's choices for contraception. For women who are sure they no longer want children, the Adiana procedure provides a safe, simple, and effective alternative to surgery," says Steve Williamson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Hologic GYN Surgical Products.

The Adiana procedure is minimally invasive, requires no incisions, and can be performed in the comfort of a doctor's office using local anesthesia. Patients are normally able to return to work or resume their daily activities within one day.

"We love being able to offer the Adiana system as an alternative to women who are considering getting their tubes tied or having their husbands undergo vasectomy. When they hear there are no incisions involved and it can be performed in less than 15 minutes with little or no recovery time, they are thrilled," says James B. Presthus, M.D., of Minnesota Gynecology and Surgery in Edina, Minnesota.  "As a doctor, I also like that it leaves nothing in the uterus that limits a woman's options for future gynecologic tests and procedures."

The Adiana procedure is indicated for women who desire permanent birth control by occlusion of the fallopian tubes. Ideal candidates include women who do not want children in the future and would like the peace of mind and convenience of permanent birth control. The procedure may also be an ideal solution for women who desire permanent birth control but are poor candidates for surgery.

"It has changed my life," says Shannon Hager, who received the Adiana procedure in October, 2009. "I feel relieved that I will not be subjecting my body to hormones for the next twenty years and that I have freedom from the hassles of other types of birth control. This was the right choice for me, my relationship with my husband and my family."

During the Adiana procedure, a slender, flexible instrument is passed through the body's natural openings to deliver a low level of radiofrequency energy to a small section of each fallopian tube. A tiny, soft insert, about the size of a grain of rice, is then placed in each fallopian tube in the location where the energy was applied. During the three months following the procedure, the patient continues to use temporary birth control while new tissue grows in and around the Adiana inserts, eventually blocking the fallopian tubes. At three months, a special x-ray test (called a hysterosalpingogram or HSG) is performed to confirm the fallopian tubes are completely blocked and the patient may begin relying solely on Adiana permanent contraception. Adiana efficacy compares favorably to tubal ligation, without the risk of surgery.

About Hologic, Inc.

Hologic, Inc. is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics products, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women. Hologic's core business units are focused on breast health, diagnostics, GYN surgical, and skeletal health. Hologic provides a comprehensive suite of technologies with products for mammography and breast biopsy, radiation treatment for early-stage breast cancer, cervical cancer screening, treatment for menorrhagia, permanent contraception, osteoporosis assessment, preterm birth risk assessment, mini C-arm for extremity imaging and molecular diagnostic products including HPV and reagents for a variety of DNA and RNA analysis applications. For more information, visit www.hologic.com.

Forward Looking Statement Disclaimer

This News Release may contain forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties, including statements about the use of the Adiana permanent contraception system. There can be no assurance the system will achieve the benefits described herein and that such benefits will be replicated in any particular manner with respect to an individual patient as the actual effect of the use of the Adiana permanent contraception system can only be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the particular circumstances and patient in question. Hologic expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to the data or statements presented herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such data or statements are based.

Hologic and Adiana are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Hologic, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries.

SOURCE Hologic, Inc.