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Why do women experience untimed pregnancies? A review of contraceptive failure rates

Contraceptive failure contributes to a substantial proportion of unintended pregnancy, particularly in the developed world. A number of socio-demographic factors seem to impact on the risk of a woman experiencing contraceptive failure. Many of the issues exist across cultural boundaries and are complex to address. In discussing the failure rates for individual contraceptive methods, this article will highlight the advantage of improving uptake of long-acting reversible methods of contraception which have a high efficacy and are less user-dependent than many of the other available methods.

A randomized trial on the clinical performance of Nova T®380 and Gyne T®380 Slimline copper IUDs

PURPOSE

The objective of this open randomized study was to compare the clinical performance of Nova T380 and Gyne T380 Slimline copper intrauterine devices (IUDs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eligible for analyses were 957 Norwegian parous women aged 18-45 years. Clinical performance was measured upon the removal of IUD due to contraceptive failure, expulsion, bleeding, pain, pelvic inflammatory disease and other medical reasons during a 5-year study period.

RESULTS

The discontinuation rate due to contraceptive failure was significantly higher in the first year for Nova T380 users than for Gyne T380 Slimline users, whereas no differences were observed thereafter (the 5-year cumulative failure rates were 4.4% and 2.2%, respectively, per 100 women). However, the partial expulsion rate was significantly higher in the first year for Gyne T380 Slimline users than for Nova T380 users (the 5-year cumulative rates were 3.4% and 1.1,% respectively, per 100 women). No other major differences in reasons for discontinuation were found between the study groups. There was a slight nonsignificant increase in hemoglobin levels for both study groups over the course of the study.

CONCLUSION

Clinical performance was considered satisfactorily high for both devices.