A comparative study of the ease of removal of intrauterine contraceptive devices

Abstract

This study compares the rates of easy and difficult removals of various types of IUDs. Eight-hundred-sixteen IUDs were removed in Auckland Family Planning Clinics in an 8-month period. Nearly 80% were the standard Multiload Copper 250. Eight-eight percent of all IUDs were easy to remove with another 7% requiring a hard pull. Of the remaining 5%, 3.5% required simple intracervical exploration, 1% required intrauterine exploration and 0.5% were referred to hospital. When compared with the standard Multiload, no IUD was statistically easier and only the Mini-Copper 7 was harder to remove at the 5% level of significance.