Immediate IUD Insertion Shows Advantages Over Delayed Insertion

This study was limited in that there was substantial loss to follow-up in both groups of patients, with 27% of women in the immediate-insertion group and 25% of those in the delayed-insertion group dropping out of the study. "Ongoing contact with women who have undergone an abortion is difficult," as many of them "have to travel a great distance to obtain an abortion and many wish to maintain their privacy," the researchers said.

This study was supported by grants from the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation. Duramed Pharmaceuticals (now Teva Pharmaceuticals) donated the copper IUDs for this study. Dr. Bednarek reported ties to Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals (maker of Mirena IUDs), Schering Plough (now merged with Merck), and Medicines 360 (a not-for-profit pharmaceutical company); her associates reported ties to Merck, Medicines 360, Duramed, Teva Women’s Health Research, and others.