A Colposcopic Study of the Effect of IUDs on Cervical Epithelium

Abstract

A case-control study was undertaken to investigate the effects of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) on the histology of cervical epithelium. Ninety-one women who had used IUDs for 2--13 years were case subjects and were compared with the same number of women who had never used any form of contraception (control subjects). Two subgroups were investigated, group A and group B. Group A consisted of 53 IUD users and 53 controls coming to family planning and gynecology clinics, and group B consisted of 38 IUD users and 38 controls from dysplasia clinics. Cervical cytology and colposcopically directed cervical biopsies were taken in all women. There was no difference between IUD users and control subjects in the proportion or the severity of dysplasia in either group A or group B. There was no evidence of an increase in the prevalence or severity of dysplasia with prolonged IUD use.