Return of fertility after an IUD removal for planned pregnancy: a six year prospective study

This study was conducted in a series of 810 women who opted to use copper T-200 as a reliable form of contraception. The objective of the study was to determine the return of fertility after the removal of the IUD and to identify IUD related complications in an African setting. The study focused on 810 women who had requested for the removal of their IUDs at the time of planned pregnancy. Out of 810 cases, only 780 cases were analysed. In eight (1%) of the cases, the IUD was removed because of full blown pelvic infection and 22 (2.8%) of the cases lost to follow up. The mean age was 29 years. Twenty five (3.2%) of the cases were nulligravidae, 729 (93.5%) multipara, and 45 (3.3%) grand multipara. Six hundred and fifty (83.3%) were married. All the clients who entered the study could afford to go to private clinic for family planning services. Conception occurred in 160 (20.5%) in the first two cycles, 201 (25.8%) between the third and fifth cycle, 250 (32%) between the sixth and eight cycles and 60 (7.7%) between the ninth and twelfth cycle. The remaining 109 (13.9%) of the cases failed to conceive within one year after the removal of IUCD. They have unprotected sexual intercourse for a period of one year. Finally, the pregnancy out come showed the following results: spontaneous abortion 57 (7.3%), preterm birth 25 (3.2%), term delivery 589 (75.5%) and no pregnancy after the removal of the IUD in 109 (13.9%), respectively.