The Nova-T 200 intrauterine contraceptive device: a 12 year study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the long term clinical performance of the Schering Nova-T 200 intrauterine contraceptive device.


METHODS
From 1982 to 1990, 446 women were fitted with their first Nova-T IUD's and followed up until December 1994. By this cut off data, 21 (4.7%) were lost to follow up. These were excluded to simplify analysis.


RESULTS
Of the remaining 425 women, there were 383 multipara and 42 nullipara. Thirty one percent were fitted with a new Nova-T after 4 years of use. The method was uncomplicated in 70% of multiparous women, but in nulliparous users, the removal rate for unacceptable bleeding and/or pain was found to be 40% compared to 19% for the multipara. An expulsion rate of 4.9% was recorded. The overall cumulative accidental pregnancy rate was 3.5% with a Pearl Index of 1.2 per hundred woman years, a lower rate in older users being the only age related event in the study. Possible pelvic inflammatory disease was recorded in 2.8% with a Pearl index of 0.96. There was no evidence of subfertility after removal in any of the 53 women where a pregnancy was desired.


CONCLUSIONS
The Nova-T 200 IUCD is safe and cost effective and should continue to be offered as a contraceptive option for properly selected women. Although poorly tolerated by nullipara, it proved to be very satisfactory for multiparous women, particularly nursing mothers and those over 40 years of age.
Baeyertz
J D
JD
Wanganui Hospital.
Hartfield
V J
VJ
D000328:Adult; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007433:Intrauterine Device Expulsion; D007435:Intrauterine Devices, Copper / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009520:New Zealand; D010298:Parity; D013997:Time Factors