Endometrial Findings After Insertion of Stainless Steel Spring IUD

Abstract

Microscopic examination of 69 endometrial biopsies from women who were using a stainless steel spring as a intrauterine contraceptive device revealed significant inflammatory changes in 78.6% of 56 symptomatic women without gestational complications and in 16.6% of 12 asymptomatic women from whom the device was removed. One woman developed an intrauterine pregnancy with the device in place; another aborted spontaneously. The stainless steel used in this device contains a large proportion of chromium and nickel as well as trace impurities of manganese, silicon, sulfur, carbon and phosphorus. It is suggested that an important factor in the antifertilitj effect of this device may be a metal-induced endometritis.