WomanCare Global Signs Agreement with Conceptus, Inc. for Exclusive Distribution of Essure®

Permanent Contraception in Ghana, Kenya, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Turkey

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Jan. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- WomanCare Global is pleased to announce an expansion of their product portfolio to include Essure®, a non-surgical permanent birth control and the most effective permanent contraceptive method on the market.  WomanCare Global will provide full sales, marketing, training and distribution of Essure in Ghana, Kenya, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Turkey.  It is anticipated that additional countries will be added in the future.

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"Essure is an excellent method of permanent contraception.  The procedure is quick and easy and avoids the risk of anesthesia and abdominal surgery while providing effective permanent contraception.  Now that this method has been available in the US and Europe for many years, we are excited about expanding access to this proven method," said Matthew Reeves, MD, MPH, WomanCare Global's Vice President, Medical Affairs.  "I have been performing Essure procedures in the US for more than 5 years and look forward to introducing healthcare providers in other countries to the Essure procedure."

"WomanCare Global realizes the critical importance of creating global access to innovative reproductive healthcare products.  When you provide women with reproductive choices, you provide them with freedom and security for a strong future.  Essure clearly fills this need," said WomanCare Global Chief Operating Officer Saundra Pelletier.  "Our organization's hybrid business model allows us the flexibility to cross-subsidize products and results in the creation of true access in both developed and developing countries."  

Kathryn Tunstall, Founder and Chairman of the Board at Conceptus states, "We have a shared vision with WomanCare Global, that all women should have access to improved methods of birth control, such as Essure.  We are delighted to partner with WomanCare Global to ensure that this vision is realized."

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.

Three months after the Essure procedure, a doctor is able to perform an Essure Confirmation Test to confirm that the inserts are properly placed and the fallopian tubes are fully blocked, giving the patient reliance on Essure for permanent birth control. Essure has been proven and trusted by physicians since 2002, with nearly 500,000 women worldwide having undergone the Essure procedure.

About WomanCare Global

WomanCare Global provides access to high-quality, innovative and affordable reproductive healthcare technologies for contraception, fertility and pregnancy management.  WomanCare Global's mission is to expand the availability of these technologies in both public and private sectors via an established global supply chain reaching over 80 countries and growing, with particular focus on under-served markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America.  WomanCare Global is a hybrid business model, combining the best practices of for-profit and not-for-profit entities.  WomanCare Global has regulatory and quality departments that assure adherence to regulatory requirements and global quality standards in addition to a comprehensive global sales, marketing, and distribution channel. For more information about WomanCare Global, visit www.womancareglobal.com

About Conceptus, Inc.

Conceptus, Inc. (NASDAQ:CPTS), is a leader in the design, development and marketing of innovative solutions in women's healthcare. The Mountain View, California-based company manufactures and markets Essure permanent birth control. The Essure procedure is available in the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Middle East.

The Essure procedure may not be suitable for all women and there are risks.  The procedure is not reversible, and you must use another form of birth control for at least three months after the procedure.  Risks may include cramping/pain, nausea/vomiting, dizziness/light-headedness, bleeding/spotting. Visit www.essure.com for a complete list of risks and considerations.

SOURCE WomanCare Global