Post-placental and interval intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) insertion: does timing matter?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Unintended pregnancies in the first year after childbirth could be high as 10–44% and expose women to consequences of induced abortion, especially in countries where termination of pregnancy is illegal. Immediate postpartum contraception methods are beneficial for women who wish for early contraception and for women who have difficulty in returning for postpartum visits for contraception. Use of Copper containing intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) immediately after delivery (post placental) has been described recently with varying success. The aim of this study was to compare the rate of spontaneous expulsion and intrauterine displacement between post placental IUD insertion and routine IUD insertion, 6 weeks after delivery. METHODS This was an interventional comparative study. Women who were willing to start on IUD as a contraceptive method after childbirth were recruited for the study. They were randomly allocated to either group before labour/ delivery and those in the group of post placental insertion had it inserted immediately following vaginal delivery and those allocated for interval group had insertion 6 weeks after delivery. Two ultrasound examinations were performed, just after the insertion and 6 weeks later in both groups. The distance from the IUD to the internal os was measured at each examination to evaluate the displacement. RESULTS The study included 30 subjects in the post placental group and 33 in interval insertion group. The postpartum insertion group and the interval insertion groups were comparable for age [mean (SD) 27.1 (5.42) versus 25.6 (4.34), P = 0.23] and BMI [mean (SD) 22.4 (7.28) versus 23.9 (5.76), P = 0.34]. As expected, the uterine length at insertion was higher among the post placental group [mean (SD) 144.1 mm (12.2) versus 66.8 (6.7), 95%CI 72.3 to 82.1] but similar in two groups at follow up [66.6 mm (15.1) versus 64.79 (6.64), 95%CI _4.01 to 7.47]. Spontaneous expulsion and displacement was not significantly different between the post placental and interval insertion groups [3/30 versus 2/33, OR 1.72; 95%CI 0.28 to 10.7]. In these two groups, there was no difference noted in the second ultrasound measurements from the IUD to the fundal wall [16.9 mm (3.99) versus 18.24 (4.36); 95%CI _3.45 to 0.77] or to the internal os [21.8 mm (15.7) versus 17.1 (6.03); 95%CI _1.12 to 10.6]. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that insertion of an IUD immediately after delivery does not increase the risk of spontaneous expulsion or the risk of downward displacement. Therefore, such insertion can be recommended in clinical practice