THE EFFECTS OF A COPPER-INTRAUTERINE DEVICE ON THE UTERINE ARTERY BLOOD-FLOW IN REGULARLY MENSTRUATING WOMEN

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a copper-intrauteri ne device (IUD) on uterine artery blood flow during the midluteal phas e and on the first day of the menstrual cycle using pulsed colour Dopp ler ultrasonography, Twenty-one regularly menstruating women (18-45 ye ars) who were willing to use copper-IUD contraception participated in the study. The patients were first examined without the IUD in the mid luteal phase 6-9 days before the expected onset of menstruation and on the first day of menstruation, after which the IUD was inserted. Thre e months later the patients were examined again on the corresponding c ycle days. The patients estimated the level of dysmenorrhoeic pain wit h a scoring system. Transvaginal ultrasonography with colour flow imag ing was used to measure the pulsatility index (PI) in the uterine arte ries. There were no significant changes in the uterine artery blood fl ow after the insertion of the IUD during menstruation or in the midlut eal phase. In patients with increased IUD-related pain during menstrua tion (n = 5), however, there was a decrease in PI (2.87 +/- 0.52 versu s 2.41 +/- 0,23, P = 0.05) after IUD insertion. The decrease in the me an PI was present in all five patients. In conclusion, copper-IUD does not induce any major changes in the resistance of the uterine artery blood flow, although during menstruation in patients with increased me nstrual pain after IUD insertion there seems to be a decrease in the u terine artery PI.