IUD reinsertion in Taichung: a study of first and later segments.

This study is based on data collected from 5832 women who accepted I UDs mostly the Lippes Loop in the Taichung Medical follow-up study and who were recruited during July 1962-May 1965. The acceptors had regular follow-up examinations during the 6th and 12th months after 1st insertion and annually thereafter. Women who failed to come to the clinics were interviewed in their homes by trained interviewers. Life-table techniques were used to analyze the data relating to 1st and subsequent reinsertions. Results from the study show that: 1)The mean age of acceptors and the mean parity of acceptors at 1st insertion decreases slightly with an increase in the order of segment. 2) Termination by expulsion show high reinsertion rates with sharp increases shortly after termination compared with low insertion rates observed by women who terminating use voluntarily. 3)There is a striking similarity in the shape of the cumulative reinsertion rates for the 1st 3 intervals. 4)Reinsertion rates following voluntary removals are generally low but they are lowest for removals due to reasons such as discontinuance of need for protection. 5)The half-life of intervals after termination by expulsion and pregnancy shows that of those who ex pelled the IUD 1/2 would have accepted reinsertion within 2 to 3 months but that of those terminating in pregnancy 1/2 would not accept reinsertion before 34-56 months. For voluntary removals half-life was not reached even after 113 months. 6)Generally speaking by 48 months nearly 3/4 of those terminating by expulsion will accept reinsertion compared with about 1/2 of those terminating in pregnancy and 1/3 of those terminating in removal.(AUTHORS MODIFIED)