The FlexiGard 330 ICC, an ultrasound evaluation
Wildemeersch, D.; Defoort, P.; Martens, G.
Contraception 46(5): 471-476
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0010-7824 PMID: 1458893 DOI: 10.1016/0010-7824(92)90150-rDocument Number: 287415
Obstetrician/gynecologists in Brussels and Gent, Belgium, inserted the FlexiGard 330 copper releasing IUD in 514 women and followed 405 of them to determine the ability of ultrasound to evaluate the anchoring concept of this frameless and flexible IUD. The ultrasonic equipment consisted of a Pie Data Medical 400 scanner with a 3.5 MHz focused linear array transducer. They inserted the IUD's small anchoring knot into the fundus at a depth of 1 cm. They measured the distance between the serosal surface of the uterus and the upper border of the first copper sleeve (S-S distance). The expulsion rate was just .78%. Improper insertion techniques, unintentional yanking of the tail, or genital touching during sexual foreplay accounted for the 4 expulsions. Ultrasound located the IUD in all the patients who still retained the IUD. The mean S-S distance at insertion was 12.6 mm (10 mm in normal uteri and 32 mm in uteri with muscular tissue tumor) compared to 12.7 mm at last follow-up (10 mm in normal uteri and 28 mm in uteri with muscular tissue tumors). The .1 mm difference was not statistically significant. Therefore the IUDs did not migrate (some cases had the IUD for 5 years). The IUDs did not penetrate the uteri. This study showed that ultrasound is effective in determining whether the FlexiGard 330 IUD was properly inserted and whether it remains in the proper position later. The physicians suggested that vaginal ultrasound examination or use of a sector transducer rather than a linear ultrasound transducer are preferable in cases of retroverted uteri.