RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Frameless intra-uterine contraceptive device
JF Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin
JO Drug Ther Bull
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 21
OP 22
DO 10.1136/dtb.2002.40321
VO 40
IS 3
YR 2002
UL http://dtb.bmj.com/content/40/3/21.abstract
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.