The effect of the intrauterine contraceptive device on the prevalence of morphologic abnormalities in human spontaneous abortions.
Spontaneously aborted conceptuses from IUD-wearing patients and prior IUD users were examined pathologically to determine the prevalence of morphologic abnormalities, which had previously been shown to correlate with cytogenetically proven heteroploidy in the conceptus. These abnormalities were never seen in the IUD-associated abortuses while occurring with the same frequency in abortuses obtained from prior IUD users and from non-users. It is concluded that the IUD by itself is responsible for the absence of heteroploidy-correlated structural abnormalities in spontaneous abortuses conceived with the IUD in situ. Relevant mechanisms underlying this IUD effect are discussed.
D000027:Abortion, Incomplete; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D007435:Intrauterine Devices, Copper; D007621:Karyotyping; D011003:Ploidies; D011247:Pregnancy