A RANDOMIZED MULTICENTER TRIAL OF THE MULTILOAD-375 AND TCU380A IUDS IN PAROUS WOMEN - 3-YEAR RESULTS

Two copper IUDs-the Multiload 375 and TCu380A-are being studied in a r andomized multicentre study in parous women involving nineteen centres in nine countries. There have been 1,832 insertions of the Multiload 375 and 1,823 of the TCu380A. After three years of use, the Multiload 375 had a pregnancy rate that was significantly higher than the TCu380 A (2.9 +/- 0.4 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.3 per 100 women). There were no differenc es at one, two and three years of use in the expulsion rates. It is co ncluded that the Multiload 375 shows no clinical advantages over the T Cu380A and its extra cost should be an important consideration in the choice of the most appropriate IUD.