G. Farr et R. Amatya, CONTRACEPTIVE EFFICACY OF THE COPPER-T380A AND THE MULTILOAD-CU250 IUD IN 3 DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES, Advances in contraception, 10(2), 1994, pp. 137-149
The clinical performance of the Copper T380A (TC380A) and the Multiloa
d 250 (MLCu250) intrauterine devices (IUDs) were evaluated for 12 mont
hs in a group of women who had one of the two IUDs inserted. Results a
re from a randomized clinical trial conducted at four collaborating re
search sites located in three developing countries. The gross cumulati
ve life-table pregnancy rate of the TC380A IUD was significantly lower
than the rate with the MLCu250 IUD at 12 months (0.5 and 1.2, respect
ively, p < 0.01). No statistically significant differences between the
two study IUDs were found with regard to TCJD expulsion or IUD remova
l due to bleeding/pain, personal reasons, medical reasons, or planned
pregnancy. TCu380A IUD users were more likely to report experiencing i
ncreased dysmenorrhea (p<0.01) or intermenstrual pelvic pain (p<0.01)
than were MLCu250 IUD users. However, few of these users discontinued
use of their assigned IUD because of having experienced menstrual blee
ding disturbances or intermenstrual pelvic pain. These data indicate t
hat the TCu380A IUD may be a better option than the MLCu250 IUD for wo
men wishing to practice highly effective long-term birth control witho
ut having to resort to hormonal methods.