Primary Tubal Infertility in Relation to the Use of an Intrauterine Device

Abstract

Women who use an intrauterine device (IUD) are at increased risk of acute pelvic inflammatory disease, but the relation of the IUD to subsequent infertility is not established. We interviewed 159 nulligravid women with tubal infertility to determine their prior use of an IUD. Their responses were compared with those of a matched group who conceived their first child at the time the infertile women started trying to become pregnant. The risk of primary tubal infertility in women who had ever used an IUD was 2.6 times that in women who had never used one (95 per cent confidence interval, 1.3 to 5.2). The observed difference between cases and controls was not uniform for different types of IUD. The relative risk associated with use of a Dalkon Shield was 6.8 (1.8 to 25.2), and that associated with use of either a Lippes Loop or Saf-T Coil IUD was 3.2 (0.9 to 12.0). The smallest elevation in risk was found among users of copper-containing IUDs (relative risk, 1.9 [0.9 to 4.0] for all women who had ever used a copper-containing IUD). The relative risk for women who used only a copper-containing IUD was 1.3 (0.6 to 3.0). We conclude that use of the Dalkon Shield (and possibly of plastic IUDs other than those that contain copper) can lead to infertility in nulligravid women.

Forgotten Lippes loop

“…A forgotten IUCD can lead to a range of problem starting from infertility [2] to actinomycosis in post menopausal period [3] to Pelvic inflammatory disease [4] . Removal of embedded IUCD is quite difficult .Ultrasound can guide the location and help in removal [5] but hysteroscopy is the best [6] .…”

Exercise as a risk factor for infertility with ovulatory dysfunction.

“…More detailed methods for case and control selection are presented elsewhere. 4 For the purpose of the present analysis, we chose the subgroup of women defined as being infertile (those who did not conceive despite trying for at least one year) in whom an ovulatory abnormality was present ( Table 1). The In addition to the matching variables, we also analyzed other variables that might be related to either exercise or infertility, including socioeconomic variables (level of income, education, and social class of the occupation of respondents and their spouses), past birth control use, number of past sexual partners, past drug and smoking habits, and history of sexually transmitted diseases.…”

Long Tail Strings: Impact of the Dalkon Shield 40 Years Later

“…In the mid and late 1970s, multiple studies confirmed the Dalkon Shield's strong association with pelvic inflammatory disease [44] [45], spontaneous abortion [46], ectopic pregnancy, and infertility [47] [48]. These studies led to recommendations that IUDs should be avoided in nulliparous women, teenagers, and populations at increased risk for PID [49].…”