Publication:

Comparative analysis of postpartum IUDC versus interval IUCD insertion: a study conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan

Background To compare the effectiveness of postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device (PPIUCD) with interval IUCD in terms of effectiveness, expulsions, bleeding pain and other complications at Tertiary care Hospital.

Methods Current study was conducted among 224 women, at Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Reproductive Health Services-A (RHS-A) Centre of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical center, Karachi, for a period of Six months. Approval from Ethical committee and informed consent was taken from women and her husband before starting the study. The WHO medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use (MEC) were followed and IUCD was inserted in 112 women in PPIUCD group and in 112 women in interval IUCD group. These cases were followed at 15 days, 6 weeks and 6 months. Results of PPIUCD group were compared with interval IUCDs group. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 18.0. Continuous variables like age, parity, hemoglobin level were analyzed as mean±standard deviation. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for infection, expulsion, bleeding per vagina and effectiveness. Chi-square was applied to assess the difference between the categories. p value <0.05 was taken as significant.

Results The two groups were identical in mean ± SD age, parity, residence and baseline hemoglobin level. PPIUCD (Group-A) was more effective i.e., 87.5% as compared to interval IUCD (Group-B) i.e., 83.9%. Pain, PID, bleeding and expulsion of IUCD were more prevalent with interval IUCD (Group-B) than PPIUCD (Group-A) patients. Stratified analysis showed that age, parity & mean baseline hemoglobin were non-significant effect modifiers on the effectiveness among the two groups.

Conclusions Postpartum IUCD use was found to be a safe, simple, inexpensive and reversible procedure with higher chances of retention for a longer period. Additionally, there is decreased risk of complications and lower expulsion rates when compared with interval IUCD.