Intrauterine devices are the materials inserted in the uterus through the vagina by medical experts, in order to prevent pregnancy. It is one of the popular methods of birth control with a success rate of 95 to 99% in India. These devices include
- Copper releasing IUDs
- Hormone releasing IUDs and
- Non-medicated IUDs. IUDs increase phagocytosis of sperm within the uterus and are the ideal contraceptive for women.
(i) Copper releasing IUDs: Copper releasing IUDs are CuT-380A, NovaT, Cae7, CuT 380 Ag, Multiload 375 etc., and they differ from each other by the amount of copper they release as free copper or copper salts into the uterus and prevent sperm motility. They can remain in the uterus for five to ten years.
(ii) Hormone releasing IUDs:
releasing IUDs are progestagen and ING – 20, which are often called as intrauterine systems (IUS). They prevent sperms from entering the cervix by increasing the viscosity of the cervical mucus.
(iii) Non-medicated IUDs: They are made up of stainless steel or plastic. Double ‘S’ shaped plastic lippes loop is a typical example of a non-medicated IUD.
