Experience with the copper 7 intrauterine device in an adolescent population

A retrospective study was conducted of 120 consecutive patients who received a Cu-7 IUD at the Cincinnati Adolescent Clinic during a four-year period from July, 1974, through June, 1978. Follow-up was obtained in 116 (97%) of the initial patient population. Mean age at initial Cu-7 insertion was 16.8 years; 81% of the patients were nulliparous. An experience of 149.7 women years was accumulated; the pregnancy rate at the conclusion of the study was 2.0/100 women years. Continuation rate was 83% at six months, 70% at 12 months, 49% at 24 months, and 39% at 36 months. Patient expulsion rate was 18% overall, with a total of 17 expulsion events/100 woman years. Subjective satisfaction with the IUD as a contraceptive method was expressed by 72% of these patients. The Cu-7 has proven to be a safe, effective, well-tolerated contraceptive method in the adolescent female.