Color Doppler sonographic study of the uterine artery in patients using intrauterine contraceptive devices

A transvaginal Doppler sonographic examination of uterine artery blood flow was performed. Resistance and pulsatility indices were measured in 101 women, 74 of whom were using an intrauterine contraceptive device, and 27 controls, who were not using any contraceptive method. The intrauterine contraceptive device users were divided into three groups: those with normal bleeding (n = 34); those with abnormal uterine bleeding without medication (n = 16); and those with abnormal bleeding corrected with use of prostaglandin inhibitors (n = 24). The resistance and pulsatility values were significantly lower in the group of women using intrauterine contraceptive devices who had abnormal bleeding than in all other groups (P<0.001). All other comparisons were nonsignificant. A pulsatility index of less than 2 may be associated with a higher risk for development of intrauterine contraceptive device-induced bleeding.