INTRAUTERINE CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICE WITH LARGE APPENDAGES

An intrauterine contraceptive device made from plastic and having a perimetral ring with or without a central membrane and including wide paddle-shaped retrograde spurs having a tapering cross-section located on each of the outer side portions of the perimetral ring. The spurs preferably have a retrograde inclination and decreasing length from a nose portion of the perimetral ring toward the tail portion, the nose portion being slightly wider than the tail portion providing the IUD with an inverted pear shaped outline when viewed in plan. A marker and extraction string or line is preferably secured at the nose portion but can be secured to the tail portion. Between spurs, thin webs may be utilized to provide increased IUD surface area. The webs may or may not be secured to the spurs and may terminate between or beyond the spurs. Internal of the perimetral ring is preferably a membrane having openings at least adjacent the nose and the tail.