Color Doppler sonographic study of the uterine artery in patients using intrauterine contraceptive devices

A transvaginal Doppler sonographic examination of uterine artery blood flow was performed. Resistance and pulsatility indices were measured in 101 wom en, 74 of whom were using an intrauterine contraceptive device, and 27 cont rols, who were not using any contraceptive method. The intrauterine contrac eptive device users were divided into three groups: those with normal bleed ing (n = 34); those with abnormal uterine bleeding without medication (n = 16); and those with abnormal bleeding corrected with use of prostaglandin i nhibitors (n = 24). The resistance and pulsatility values were significantl y lower in the group of women using intrauterine contraceptive devices who had abnormal bleeding than in all other groups (P < 0.001). All other compa risons were nonsignificant. A pulsatility index of less than 2 may be assoc iated with a higher risk for development of intrauterine contraceptive devi ce-induced bleeding.