ABSTRACT
PIP: Lippes Loop D or Copper T-200 devices were randomly assigned to 400 women in Santiago, Chile, none of whom had been recently pregnant, in the effort to test the relationship between IUD use and anemia and the effect of daily iron supplements on hematocrit levels in conjunction with IUD use. The mean age for the acceptor group was 25.4; the mean parity was 1.9. Daily iron supplements were randomly assigned to 200 women in the group. Daily iron supplements were given to 21 women in the non-iron group who were admitted with hematocrit values of less than 30%. Hematocrit readings were performed at admission and at each subsequent follow-up. Readings were performed on cervical samples at 1, 3, 6 and 12 month follow-up visits. Mean admission hematocrit values were compared to the corresponding values at each follow-up via a paired t-test. There were no significant differences found for users of either IUD in the group taking daily iron supplements. In the non-supplement group, there were significant declines in hematocrit levels at 3 and 6 months after IUD insertion. At 12-months post-insertion, the mean hematocrit values for all groups increased from the 6-month level. Women taking iron supplements had lower rates of expulsion and removal for bleeding and pain, but the results were insignificant.^ieng