Cytological changes caused by intrauterine devices

As part of a mass screening program 100 cervical-endocervical smears of IUD wearers were examined and compared with the smears of 100 women in a control group. A positive relationship between the use of IUDs and the cellular changes in the glandular epithelium both of endocervical and endometrial origin could be demonstrated. The most striking abnormalities occurred in the cytoplasms; however the nuclei also showed some degree of variation in size and shape thus giving rise to problems concerning the differential diagnosis with atypias due to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in various stages as well as to adenocarcinoma and its precursors. (authors) (summary in ENG)