A 10-year experience in removing Chinese intrauterine devices.
OBJECTIVE
To review 10 years of experience in removal of Chinese intrauterine devices (IUD) attained by a single gynecologist practicing in Canada.


METHODS
Office records from women who presented requesting IUD removal between January 1999 and December 2008 were reviewed. Specific data including the time of IUD insertion, the country where the IUD was inserted, menstrual and obstetric histories, success of the IUD removal in an office setting, and the type of IUD removed were recorded.


RESULTS
Of 314 women using a Chinese IUD, 227 (72.3%) had successful removal of the device in an office setting. Most women (86.6%) fitted with a Chinese IUD had no thread seen outside the cervix. A total of 279 Chinese IUDs were removed (from both the office setting and operating room), consisting of 11 different types; the most common type was the stainless steel ring (63.4%). Difficult removal was associated with absence of a visible thread outside the cervix, postmenopausal status, and no previous vaginal birth. The type of IUD and duration of placement did not affect the ease of removal.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge about the different types of Chinese IUDs in use will enable gynecologists to provide optimal care to their patients.
Cheung
Vincent Y T
VY
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, North York General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. vcheung@nygh.on.ca
D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D002681:China; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors