Analysis of 500 cases of missing IUD threads

ABSTRACT

Five hundred consecutive contraceptors whose IUD threads were neither visible nor palpable at the time of examination were included in this study.Three hundred and seventy women had their IUD in utero [20 were pregnant] and 30 had unnoticed expulsions. One hundred devices were in the peritoneal cavity. Since the IUD was in the uterine cavity in the majority of these cases, most contraceptors whose IUD threads disappear could be managed in the outpatient clinic with relatively simple techniques to locate and remove the device