A two-man experience with the copper “T” intrauterine device

Abstract

The contraceptive effectiveness and the incidence of side effects of the Copper T Model T Cu200 in 396 women was studied by a two-man team in a private clinic. There were six pregnancies, a rate of 2.7 per 100 woman years of use, which were associated with either expulsion or displacement of the IUCD. The expulsion-displacement was higher in the immediate postpartum insertions, and in the nulligravid group. The implications of these findings are discussed, and visible and invisible displacement of the IUCD are illustrated. Twenty IUCDs were removed for medical reasons primarily menorrhagia and/or metrorrhagia. There were 9 removals for non-medical reasons, mainly because of desired pregnancy. Menorrhagia and intermenstrual spotting were the most frequently reported side effects of the copper T. There was a drop in the incidence of reported side effects as the months of use increased with the exception of metrorrhagia in the gravid group. The significant advantages of the Cu T are its high acceptability in the nulligravid, the reduced bleeding, and the ease of insertion.