Preliminary analysis of a multicenter clinical trial using Multiload Cu 375SL for emergency contraception.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy, side-effects and acceptability of the Multiload Cu 375SL (MLCu 375SL IUD) used as emergency contraception (EC).

Method: Women who requested EC had a MLCu 375SL IUD inserted within 5 days after unprotected intercourse.

Results: Data from 515 subjects who completed the follow-up visits were analyzed. The majority were parous women (428, 83.1%). Most of the nulliparous women, 70 out of 87 (80.5%), had had a previous abortion. The efficacy rate was 92.40%. Two pregnancies were detected at the follow-up visits. One of them was considered to be a user failure. There were no failures in insertion procedure or no pelvic infections in either group. The common complaints were pain and bleeding. The removal rate in the nulliparous group (14.9%) was significantly higher than in the parous group (3.5%).

Conclusions: Insertion of a MLCu 375SL IUD within 5 days after unprotected intercourse provides an alternative emergency contraceptive method. It is more acceptable to parous women who plan to continue practicing contraception. It is important to provide careful counselling to clients and to emphasize that the insertion of the IUD must be within 5 days after unprotected intercourse in order to reduce the potential risk of pregnancy.