The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of the TCu380A (GYN
ET 380 IUDs) in long-term users for periods of >5 years and to obtain the i
ncidence of Actinomyces as related to length of use and reasons for removal
.
The report is a retrospective descriptive study of all the clinical cases (
n = 370 patients) at the Municipal Family Planning Centre-SERGAS A Coruna S
pain, of women who had a TCu380A IUD inserted during the period 1988-1989 w
ith a September 1997 cutoff date for data analysis.
A total of 271 (73.5%) patients had been using the TCu380A IUD for >5 years
with 100% efficacy. The accumulated incidence of Actinomyces was 5.9% (CI
95%: 3.8-8.9). The highest incidence was found between the second and third
year of use. There was no increase in the incidence of Actinomyces after 5
years of use. The most common reason for removal of the IUD was the durati
on of use of 8 years with the same device (32.3%). CONTRACEPTION 1999;59:23
3-236 (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.