The reasons of intrauterin device discontinuation in women applied to a family planning policlinic

Abstract

Objective: Intrauterine device (IUD) application is a widely used effective, safe and economic method for family planning. In this study, we aimed to assess the reasons of intrauterine device discontinuation in women applied to a family planning policlinic.

Methods: This descriptive study was performed in a family planning policlinic with 190 women, aged 18 and older, who admitted for IUD removal between 01.12.2012-31.12.2012. Their socio-demographic characteristics and the IUD discontinuation reasons were surveyed by a questionnaire which is developed by researchers according to the literature.

Results: The participants mean age was 33.52±8.78 years. Of the respondents, 64.2% had primary school, 23.2% had middle/high school education and 92.1% of them were housewives. The most frequently used IUD type (97.8%) was copper-containing intrauterine device (Cu-IUD). The complaints due to IUD use were; 52.6% increase in menstrual bleeding comparing to previous, 51.6% prolonged bleeding time, 40.0% dysmenorrhea, 51.6% foul-smelling discharge, 35.8% pain during sexual intercourse. The causes of discontinuation were; the desire to have children (34.2%), intermenstrual spotting or prolonged menstrual bleeding (17.9%), uterine infection (14.2%), spontane expulsion (10.5%) respectively. Increase in age, number of children and duration of marriage was related with higher frequency of IUD discontinuation. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.001). When we searched for the relationship between the duration of IUD use and reasons for removal, IUD using time was short in women who want child whereas it was long in menopausal period (p=0.001).

Conclusion: Whilst the desire to have children was the privileged reason of IUD discontinuation, prolonged and heavy menstrual bleeding, dysmenorrhea, uterine infection, IUD plus pregnancy were the other causes.