IUD Use Continues to Lag Behind Other Contraceptive Use
We have had great success with both Paragard & Mirena
ACOG NEWS RELEASEFor Release January 31, 2002 12:01 AM
IUD Use Continues to Lag Behind Other Contraceptive Use
WASHINGTON, DC — While most US ob-gyns consider today’s intrauterine device (IUD) to be a safe and effective contraceptive option for women, very few are routinely recommending or inserting them today, according to the results of a survey in the February issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. The survey found that 20% of ob-gyns had not inserted an IUD in the previous year, and of those that had, 79% had inserted 10 or fewer. Those ob-gyns who believe the IUD increases the risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and those who fear being sued, inserted fewer IUDs. The researchers found that the scientific evidence does not support either concern. They also found that ob-gyns in general had very strict criteria for selecting candidates for IUDs, further limiting their use. According to the study’s authors, educational programs are needed to target physicians to increase the use of the IUD and help erase the negative image of the IUD cast by the Dalkon Shield controversy three decades earlier.
Contact: Nancy L. Stanwood, MD, MPH, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, at nancy_stanwood@urmc.rochester.edu
# # #
Studies published in Obstetrics & Gynecology, the peer-reviewed scientific journal of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of ACOG. ACOG is the national medical organization representing nearly 40,000 physicians who provide health care for women.
Copyright © 2003 The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
409 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024-2188