The effectiveness of the Copper-T intrauterine device: a collaborative study in five countries.

PIP: Investigators in 5 countries collaborated with the Population Council to study the use-effectiveness of a new intrauterine contraceptive -- a T-shaped inert plastic device modified to bear 200 mm of exposed copper surface. After clinical trials in Santiago, Chile, the TCu-200 was tested on a total of 6257 women in the U.S.A., Colombia, Iran, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand from May to November 1971. Postacceptance data are available for 95.3%, most of whom were interviewed at home 6 to 13 months after the initial insertion. For women with 1,2, or 3 living children at the time of acceptance, copper-T had higher continuation rates than Lippes Loop acceptors in the same countries. For women with 4 or more living children at the time of acceptance, continuation rates for the T device were only slightly higher, or the same, as those for the Lippes Loop. Pregnancy and expulsion rates for the copper-T were below those for the loop. Because of the uncertainty of the effective life of the copper, it is currently recommended that the device be replaced every 2 years, which would seem to limit it as a preferred device in mass family planning programs. However, recent evidence indicates that the antifertility effect of the copper-T device may last longer than 2 years.^ieng