Effect of Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices on the Endometrium

The human uterine cavity is a space of variable size and configuration. 1 Intrauterine contraception, by its very nature, introduces a foreign body into this space, to the presence of which the uterus must accommodate. Any uterine-tissue reaction to the intrauterine device, if present, should be apparent in the endometrium, the lining of the uterine cavity in direct contact with the device. Intrauterine contraception has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity since 1959. During the past five years, uterine bacteriology 2,3 and cytology have been studied in association with the device. Other than superficial appraisal by the endometrial biopsy, uterine pathology has been given little reported attention. 4 Allen, 5 examining the histological findings from 18 uteri that had contained a stainless steel ring from six days to five months, noted no evidence of endometrial infection. More recently, Willson and his co-workers 6 reported on observations made of 292 endometrial specimens