A light and electron microscope study of cells in contact with intrauterine contraceptive devices.

Abstract

A light and electron microscope study of cells in contact with IUDs was conducted with material from 55 IUDs extracted for clinical reasons after being in place an average of 15 months and 2 hysterectomy specimens with IUD in situ. Extracted IUDs were fixed and embedded in Araldite hysterectomy specimens in parraffin. IUDs in place were found to have the greater part of their surfaces covered with a thin layer of white cells (with no variation in number detected at different phases of the cycle) areas of collagen and a PAS positive amorphous granular deposit. This was considered a sterile response to a foreign body although bacteria were occasionally found near IUDs. IUDs caused depressions in underlying epithelium but the ultrastructure of these cells was unaffected damage to them being rare. Leucocytes were seen migrating between epithelial cells. There was no morphological change in the ultrastructure of the endometrial cells from IUD-containing uteri which might render the cells unsuitable to receiving an implanting ovum.