Non-randomised, observational comparison of continued use of the intrauterine device (IUD) at 6 weeks among women who received immediate or delayed insertion of the copper IUD after medical abortion at 17–20 weeks’ gestation
| Immediate IUD placement (n=43)* | Delayed IUD placement (n=65) | Pearson’s Chi-square test | |
| n (%) | n (%) | P value* | |
| Using original IUD† | 29 (67.4) | 13 (20.0) | <0.001 |
| Using any IUD | 40 (93.0) | 25 (38.5) | <0.001 |
| IUD inserted as planned‡ | n=43* | n=14‡ | |
| Using original IUD | 29 (67.4) | 13 (92.9) | 0.084 |
| Complete expulsion | 6 (14.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Intracervical placement§ | 7 (16.3) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Malpositioned and symptomatic | 1 (2.3) | 1 (7.1) | |
| Pain at IUD insertion¶ | n=38 | n=14 | ~1.000¶ |
| None or mild | 29 (76.3) | 10 (71.4) | |
| Moderate | 7 (18.4) | 3 (21.4) | |
| High | 2 (5.3) | 1 (7.7) |
*Analysis does not include missing data (n=2).
†Defined as use of an IUD adequately placed with no clinical indication for removal.
‡Secondary non-randomised, observational comparison of women who had the IUD inserted. Denominator (14) includes two participants in the immediate arm that crossed over to the delayed arm. Expulsion/removal in immediate compared with delayed insertion (p=0.044).
§Four participants had no symptoms or clinical signs on examination thought to be related to the intracervical placement, one participant had no symptoms but a blood-tinged discharge and two participants had cramping but no clinical signs on examination.
¶Fisher’s exact test, fove participants with missing data.
IUD, intrauterine device.