[Nova-T and Copper-T in a 5 years' comparison]

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Medical Devices
• Contraception

Background:

• Intra-uterine contraceptive devices (IUCDs) are a common form of reversible contraception.
• Comparative studies are essential to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different IUCD models.
• The Nova-T and Copper-T-200 are widely used IUCDs with distinct designs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the five-year efficacy and safety of the Nova-T and Copper-T-200 intra-uterine contraceptive devices.
• To assess pregnancy rates, expulsion rates, and device retention in relation to age and parity.
• To evaluate the ease of insertion and removal, and the return of fertility after device use.

Main Methods:

• A five-year multi-centre randomized comparative study.
• Inclusion of 1865 insertions of Nova-T and Copper-T-200 devices.
• Data collection on Pearl Index, pregnancy rates, expulsion, insertion/removal complications, and return of fertility.

Main Results:

• The cumulative five-year Pearl Index was 0.8 for Nova-T and 2.0 for Copper-T-200.
• Nova-T showed lower pregnancy rates across all subgroups (country, age, parity).
• Nova-T exhibited better retention, with expulsion rates less influenced by age and parity compared to Copper-T-200. Insertion and removal were uncomplicated, and fertility returned promptly.

Conclusions:

• Nova-T is an excellent intra-uterine contraceptive device with superior efficacy and retention compared to Copper-T-200.
• The device's design facilitates easy insertion and removal, contributing to its favorable safety profile.
• Nova-T offers a reliable long-term contraceptive solution with no adverse impact on future fertility.