Clinical experience with the MLCu250 IUD (eight-year results)

Between 1977 and 1981, 1561 MLCu250 standard model IUDs were inserted at the Family Planning Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical School of Debrecen, Hungary. The majority were in the first (61.3%) and second (32.2%) segment and only a few were in the third (5.4%), fourth (1.0%) or fifth (0.1%) segment. Insertions were performed in the postmenstrual, postabortal, postpartal and postpuerperal periods. This report evaluates the data for interval insertions only, representing a total of 1457 cases and 65762 woman-months of use during an 8-year follow-up period. Using Tietze's life table technique, cumulative and yearly specific termination rates have been calculated. Fifty per cent of the devices were in place after 5 years of use, and 27.8% of the patients wore the IUD even at the end of the eighth year after insertion. The pertinent termination rate (pregnancy, expulsion, removal for bleeding/pain and for other medical reasons together) was 56.8 in the 96th ordinal month. These findings prove the good over-all performance of the MLCu250 IUD and demonstrate a longer life span for the device than was previously expected.