Copper intrauterine contraceptive devices and serum essential metals

Abstract

Serum levels of the essential metals, iron (Fe), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and calcium (Ca), were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in one hundred and twenty randomly selected adult Nigerian female volunteers fitted with copper T or Delta T intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) for a period of 3-18 months, and their normal age-matched controls. The mean serum concentration of all the essential metals was lower in the women fitted with copper IUDs than the control group. The differences, however, are not statistically significant (p greater than 0.05).