CONTENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
December 1995 |
Women use IUDs longer than most other reversible contraceptive methods. In large multicenter trials in developing countries, about 70 to more than 90 per 100 women were still using their IUDs one year after insertion (see Table 1). In a Population Council study, eight years after insertion 25 of every 100 women were still using the TCu-380Ag (547). A WHO study found 44% continuing to use the TCu-380A after seven years (566). IUD continuation rates in clinical trials are as high or higher than for Norplant implants (470, 472, 562) and higher than for oral contraceptives, condoms, or diaphragms (204, 437, 473). Even outside clinical trials, IUD continuation rates are high (505). The 1980 study in the Philippines estimated one-year continuation rates of 70% among IUD users compared with 42% among oral contraceptive users and 10% among condom users (204). Similarly, statistics from the Indonesian national family planning program showed that 65% to 75% of IUD users were still using their method after three years compared with 30% to 40% of oral contraceptive users (98). In Pakistan a 1992-93 interview study found that 72% of copper-T users still had their IUDs in place after 12 months, as did 64% of Lippes Loop users (621). |