Clinical experiences with MLCu250 and MLCu375 IUD

The paper summarizes the author's ten-year experience with 1446 interval insertions of the MLCu250 standard-type device, and makes comparison between the first two-year results of this and the MLCu375 IUD. The 120th month was completed by 106 MLCu250 users, and the cumulative woman-months of use (wmu) were 78,078. At the end of the second year, 976 patients were at risk in this group, representing a total of 28,097 wmu. From the initial 224 MLCu375 IUD cases, 160 (2,151 wmu) and 93 (3634 wmu) were eligible for life-table calculation at the end of the first and the second year, respectively. The overall performance was evaluated by net and gross cumulative and yearly specific rates as suggested by Tietze. These figures are detailed by the article. Based on this evaluation, two statements are made: (1) the MLCu250 standard-type device has a good overall performance and a longer life span than was previously expected; (2) the first two-year results with the MLCu375 are more favorable (lower termination rates, higher continuation) than the MLCu250.