[Side effects of intrauterine pessaries--a retrospective study]

Based upon a retrospective evaluation of 27,519 cycles in 932 patients, we determined the type and rate of incidence of side effects. In 57.2% of the patients, the course was without any complaints. Approximately 80% of all complications, induced by IUD, occur already during the first 3 months after insertion, with the exception of pelvic inflammation and pregnancy. 62.5% of the adnexitides and/or endometritides were observed during the 4-year observation period during the first 12 months without time cumulation; this applies likewise to the pregnancies occurring with IUD. The largest proportion of side effects were haemorrhagic disorders (33.2%), followed by recurrent pain in the lower abdomen (9.9%).