The state of the device and copper levels in the products of conception in women becoming pregnant with a copper-bearing IUD in situ

Abstract

Of the 8 pregnancies studied, 2 were of small gestational sacs with blighted ova and were associated with devices in which the copper wire had very high detectable X-ray emissions for copper (greater than 90%). In 2 other pregnancies intrauterine deaths had occurred by the time of termination at 13 and 17 weeks and copper levels in the products of conception were variable. There was no abnormality of the fetus in the term pregnancy but it seems possible that copper can affect the early growth and development of the embryo. On only 1 of the 8 devices was any great amount of calcium deposited and it is therefore considered unlikely that calcium deposition increases the risk of pregnancy by preventing the release of copper.

The role of embryology in teratological research, with particular reference to the development of the neural tube and heart

“…Various types of abnormalities were reported in surviving hamster offspring, many of which involved mid-line closure defects both of the neural tube and of the anterior thoracic and abdominal walls. Gosden, Ross, McGovern & Reid (1979) have described severe developmental retardation in spontaneously aborted fetuses, and cases of intrauterine death in other pregnancies occurring in women with a copper IUCD in situ.…”

Development of Human Embryos in the Presence of a Copper Intrauterine Device

“…It should be noted that in the staining control procedure, the copper concentration was about 10 pg and has been unequivocally diagnosed or determined in the control animals. Therefore it is evident that a 40-pg concentra tion as found in the animals or 70 pg in the human cases as shown above [12,21] would result in copper deposits in the exposed organs or tissue which are definitely detectable by this staining method.…”

“…Gosden et al [21] measured copper levels in 3 human fetuses at 10, 13 and 17 weeks of development with a copper IUD in the uterus. The fetal brain, kidney and liver copper levels were not elevated in comparison with those in a single unexposed fetus of 15 weeks' gestation.…”