PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
ED  - ,
TI  - Frameless intra-uterine contraceptive device
AID  - 10.1136/dtb.2002.40321
DP  - 2002 Mar 01
TA  - Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin
PG  - 21--22
VI  - 40
IP  - 3
4099  - http://dtb.bmj.com/content/40/3/21.short
4100  - http://dtb.bmj.com/content/40/3/21.full
SO  - Drug Ther Bull2002 Mar 01; 40
AB  - Relevant BNF section: 7.3.4Modern copper-containing contraceptive intra-uterine devices (IUDs) typically comprise a solid plastic frame loaded with copper wire and/or copper sleeves. Although they are very effective (annual pregnancy rates generally below 1%), some women discontinue their use within a year after insertion because of excessive bleeding and/or painful periods (4-15%), or because the device has been spontaneously expelled (2-8%).1 GyneFix (Contrel) is a new IUD approved for up to 5 years of use. Its manufacturer claims that the device produces fewer unwanted effects, and is less likely to be expelled, than conventional IUDs because it does not have a plastic frame (a frameless device). Here we assess these claims.