Intrauterine contraceptive device localization by clinical evaluation and real-time ultrasonography

A total of 43 Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUD) wearers were examined clinically and ultrasonically in order to ascertain the intrauterine position of IUDs (copper devices of five different types). The time elapsed from the insertion was 2-26 months. The mean age of the women was 28 years; 95% of them were parous. The intrauterine location of the IUD was assessed clinically by means of threads cut to a standard length. In the ultrasound examination, the distance of the uppermost point of the stem of the device from the fundal wall was measured within an accuracy of 1 mm. The clinical assessment of the IUD location was found to agree surprisingly closely with the results of the ultrasound examination. The clinical assessment deviated significantly from the ultrasonography findings in about 10% of the cases.