Pregnancy outcomes with a copper 380 mm2 intrauterine device in place: A retrospective cohort study in Turkey, 2011-2021

Sultan Seren Karakuş; Resul Karakuş; Emine Eda Akalın; Münip Akalın

doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2023.110090

Pregnancy outcomes with a copper 380 mm² intrauterine device in place: A retrospective cohort study in Turkey, 2011-2021

Contraception. 2023 Sep:125:110090. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2023.110090. Epub 2023 Jun 16.

Authors

Sultan Seren Karakuş¹, Resul Karakuş¹, Emine Eda Akalın², Münip Akalın³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Health Sciences Zeynep Kamil Women's and Children's Disease Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bahcesehir University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
³ Department of Perinatology, Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: munipakalin89@gmail.com.

PMID: 37331462
DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2023.110090

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate pregnancy outcomes in patients with pregnancies with a copper 380 mm² intrauterine device (IUD) in situ at conception.

Study design: In this retrospective study, we identified patients with pregnancies with a copper 380 mm² IUD between 2011 and 2021 from the electronic health record system. According to their initial diagnosis, we classified the patients as having nonviable intrauterine pregnancies (IUPs), viable IUPs, or ectopic pregnancies. Among the viable IUPs, we divided the ongoing pregnancies into two subgroups as IUD-removed and IUD-retained. We compared the pregnancy loss (miscarriage before 22 weeks) rates and adverse pregnancy outcomes (at least one of preterm birth, preterm premature rupture of membranes, chorioamnionitis, placental abruption, or postpartum hemorrhage) of IUD-removed and IUD-retained pregnancies.

Results: We identified a total of 246 patients with pregnancies with an IUD. We excluded six (2.4%) patients without follow-up data and seven (2.8%) patients with levonorgestrel-IUD and included the remaining 233 (44 [18.9%] ectopic pregnancy, 31 [13.3%] nonviable IUP, and 158 [67.5%] viable IUP) patients. Among the 158 women with viable IUP, 21 (13.3%) underwent abortion, leaving 137 (86.7%) who elected to continue the pregnancy. A total of 54 (39.4%) patients with ongoing pregnancy had the IUD removed. We found a lower rate of pregnancy loss among those who underwent removal (18/54 [33.3%]) compared to those with a retained IUD (51/83 [61.4%], p < 0.001). After accounting for pregnancy loss, adverse pregnancy outcomes remained increased in the IUD-retained group (17/32 [53.1%]) compared to the IUD-removed group (10/36 [27.8%], p = 0.03).

Conclusions: Pregnancy in the setting of a copper 380 mm² IUD is high risk. Our results demonstrate that pregnancy outcomes improve by removal of the copper 380 mm² IUD.

Implications: Prior studies have suggested that the removal of the IUD improves outcomes, but all have limitations. Our results from a very large series with care in a single institution provide contemporary evidence to support copper 380 mm² IUD removal to reduce the risk of both early pregnancy loss and later adverse outcomes.

Keywords: Contraception; Copper 380 mm(2) intrauterine device; Intrauterine device; Perinatal outcome; Pregnancy.

MeSH terms

Abortion, Spontaneous* / epidemiology
Abortion, Spontaneous* / etiology
Copper
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Intrauterine Devices*
Intrauterine Devices, Copper* / adverse effects
Placenta
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome
Pregnancy, Ectopic* / epidemiology
Pregnancy, Ectopic* / etiology
Premature Birth* / epidemiology
Retrospective Studies
Turkey / epidemiology

Substances

Copper