RETRACTED ARTICLE: Self-administrated vaginal 2% lidocaine in-situ gel for pain relief during copper intrauterine device insertion in women with previous caesarean delivery only: a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Abstract

We, the Editor and Publisher of the European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care, have retracted the following article: Ahmed M. Abbas, Noura H. Abd Ellah, Maryt A. Hosny, Mohamed S. Abdellah & Mohammed K. Ali (2021) Self-administrated vaginal 2% lidocaine in-situ gel for pain relief during copper intrauterine device insertion in women with previous caesarean delivery only: a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial, The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care, 26:2, 132–138, DOI: 10.1080/13625187.2020.1868427 Following the article’s publication, significant concerns were raised about the integrity of the data and reported results in the article. When approached for an explanation, the authors kindly provided their data, but they have not sufficiently addressed the concerns raised. We contacted the authors’ institution to evaluate the statistical concerns, and the institution’s statistician found no significant concerns regarding the data. However, the journal’s editorial team and three external statisticians’ findings did not agree. As verifying the validity of published work is core to the integrity of the scholarly record, we are therefore retracting the article. The authors do not agree with the retraction. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and COPE guidelines The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as ‘Retracted’.