Insertion of the Multiload Cu375 intrauterine device; experience in over 16,000 New Zealand women.

Insertion of Multiload Cu375 was studied in 16,159 women in a 10-year prospective observational cohort study in New Zealand. Of 17,468 insertions, about 9% were performed in nulliparous women. Problems fitting Multiload Cu375 (e.g., failed or difficult insertion) were experienced during approximately 2% of all insertions. The incidence of these was significantly higher in nulliparous women compared to parous women. Adverse reactions to insertion (e.g., pain, bleeding) occurred in 1.2% of all insertions, with nulliparous women experiencing significantly more adverse reactions than parous women. The insertions were performed by 1,700 different doctors in New Zealand with general practitioners performing 92% of these. Doctors who reported inserting over 100 devices in the study period experienced significantly less insertion problems than doctors who reported inserting less than 10 devices. This study suggests that insertion of Multiload Cu375 in a mixed community setting is associated with few inserting problems and adverse reactions to insertion. Risk factors identified for inserting problems included nulliparity and experience of the doctor inserting the intrauterine device. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Inc.