Effectiveness of Intrauterine Contraceptive Device in Immediate Post-Partum Period

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of intra-Uterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD) in immediate postpartum period for prevention of pregnancy.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, POF Hospital Wah Cantt. Pakistan, from Jan to Jun 2021.

Methodology: A total of 100 women, aged 20-40 years, and parity 1-4 undergoing delivery either through normal vaginal (Group-A) or Cesarean section (Group-B) who accepted Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) in postpartum period were included. IUCDs were placed within 48 hours of delivery. The females were followed up after first menstruation up to 3 to 6 weeks on the phone and were recalled in OPD for assessment. The primary outcome was frequency of expulsion of IUCDs and secondary outcome was pregnancy.

Results: Out of the 56 patients in Group-A, 54 (96.4%) didn’t become pregnant. Only 2(3.6%) patients had positive pregnancy test. Forty out of forty-four subjects in Group-B (90.90%) did not develop pregnancy, which shows that IUCD (Cu-T) is an effective means of contraception (p value <0.001). LARC effectiveness was analogous in both study groups with p value 0.232. Similarly, the frequency of expulsion was also comparable in both groups that is 11(25.0%) expulsions in Group-B versus 16(28.6%) in Group-A (p value 0.433).

Conclusion: The Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (Cu-T) is effective means of contraception in immediate postpartum period and can be used to decrease the expulsion rate  in these women.