title: Intrauterine device failure: relation to its location within the uterine cavity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possible role of position of the intrauterine device (IUD) in accidental pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the location of the IUD in 97 normal women 45-60 days post-insertion, and in 25 pregnant women with the device in situ.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A cervically located IUD was identified in seven of 97 women (7.2%) after insertion and in 13 of 25 pregnant women (52%) with the device in situ. The odds ratio for a woman with an intracervical IUD to be pregnant compared with a woman with an IUD in the uterus was 13.93 (95% confidence limits 4.13-48.96). Sonographic follow-up of the pregnant women revealed no change in IUD location during early gestation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that cases of failed contraceptive action of the IUD may be secondary to a malpositioned device. A sonographic survey can identify displaced devices. Reinsertion of the IUD in such cases is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah University Hospital, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anteby
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Revel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben-Chetrit
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tadmor
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yagel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*