Volume 85, Number 4 www.aafp.org/afp American Family Physician 403 The use of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) has increased from 1.3 to 5.5 percent over the past decade. There are three LARCs available in the United States: the etonogestrel single-rod implant and two types of intrauterine devices (IUDs; copper T380A and levonorgestrel intrauterine system [Mirena]). Rates of uninte...

Thank you for publishing the article by Draper et al. on intrauterine device (IUD) checks.1 I would like to highlight an omission that is potentially confusing. The authors state “until recently, it has been usual for a patient [using intrauterine methods] to be advised to have an annual check”. Reference is made to relevant clinical guidelines from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence...

Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), which include intrauterine devices (IUDs) and subdermal hormonal implants, are gaining popularity due to their high efficacy in preventing unintended pregnancies. IUD use was more common among U.S. women in the 1970s before concerns over safety led to a decline in use (1); however, since approval of a 5-year contraceptive implant in 1990 and redesi...

In order to gain an understanding of Salvadoran health care providers' clinical knowledge, attitudes, and practice toward the intrauterine device (IUD), Ministry of Health providers completed a self-administered, anonymous survey. Surveys were completed by 135 participants. The majority (94.7% and 97.0%) agreed the IUD is a safe and effective form of contraception. Only 46.6% of participants ha...

This study identifies factors associated with contraceptive discontinuation and switching among Ghanaian women of reproductive age, using data from 1,378 female respondents of the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Logistic regression models were used to determine relationships between key socio-demographic factors and user status. Discontinued use occurred among 56% of ever users and sw...

A study of 190 Philippine family planning clinics revealed that certain clinic and physician characteristics were significantly and positively associated with clinic effectiveness, defined in terms of the mean number of monthly acceptors of family planning and the efficacy of the methods selected. Clinics with a high degree of effectiveness were more likely to be staffed by physicians who wante...

OBJECTIVES To compare rates of unintended pregnancy, method continuation and reasons for removal among women using the 52-mg levonorgestrel (daily release 20 microg) levonorgestrel IUD (LNG-IUD) or the copper T 380A (TCu380A) intrauterine device. STUDY DESIGN This was an open-label 7-year randomized controlled trial in 20 centres, 11 of which in China. Data on 1884 women with interval inserti...

OBJECTIVE To study the microbial characteristics of patients with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and the possible impact of an intrauterine device (IUD) on the microbial environment in women presenting with PID. METHODS Case-control study, investigating 51 women with acute PID and 50 healthy women. Endocervical specimens for microbiological investigation were obtained at gynaecological exa...

BACKGROUND The levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG IUS) was developed over 30 years ago, but the product is currently too expensive for widespread use in many developing countries. In Kenya, one organization has received donated commodities for 5 years, providing an opportunity to assess impact and potential future role of the product. METHODS We reviewed service statistics on insertions ...

Copper-bearing intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) removed after various times in utero were examined by scanning electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis of the elements present. As time in utero increased these devices became increasingly calcified. This calcification may limit the release of copper from the devices and decrease the specific contraceptive effectiveness of copper over...