Randomized comparison of multiload standard and short devices.

A randomized study was conducted to compare the clinical performance of the ML Cu 25-standard and the ML Cu 250-short devices. 375 insertions were performed postmenstrually to mainly parous women 16-43 years of age. Over 90% of the women in both IUD groups had uterine sound lengths from 7-9 cm. The rates are based on the total of 4273 woman months of use. The lost-to-follow-up rates at 12 months were 6.7 and 4.6% for standard and short ML series respectively. The ML Cu 250-standard had a lower pregnancy rate and a lower removal rate for bleeding and/or pain but a higher expulsion rate that the short model. However these differences were not statistically significant. The shortening of the vertical arm of the Multiload device has no remarkable effect on its clinical performance. (authors)