Contraceptive efficacy of intrauterine devices

• Published in: American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Vol. 198; no. 3; pp. 248 - 253
• Main Authors: Thonneau, Patrick F., MD, MSc, Almont, Thierry E., MD
• Format: Journal Article Book Review
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Mosby, Inc 01.03.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; contraceptive efficacy; Equipment Design; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; intrauterine device (IUD); Intrauterine Devices; levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS); Medical sciences; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Treatment Outcome; contraceptive efficacy; levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS); intrauterine device (IUD); Delivery system; Intrauterine administration; Treatment efficiency; Gynecology; Levonorgestrel; Contraception; Obstetrics; Progestagen; Intrauterine contraceptive device; Contraceptive
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2007.10.787

To compare the contraceptive efficacy of various types of intrauterine devices (IUD; copper devices, Nova-T, intrauterine contraceptive systems, levonorgestrel-releasing devices), we reviewed all relevant publications on this subject that have been published over the last 2 decades. The first point to be highlighted by this review is the excellent effectiveness of IUDs, with a global cumulative pregnancy rate <2% at 5 years, whatever the type of device used. We observed a large variation in efficacy rate according to the type of IUD and also according to study design. Nevertheless, of all the types of IUDs, the levonorgestrel-releasing IUD and to a lesser extent the TCu380A IUD seem to be the most effective, with a cumulative pregnancy rate at 5 years of <0.5% for the levonorgestrel-releasing IUD and between 0.3% and 0.6% for the TCu380A IUD.