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Immediate postpartum intrauterine device insertion — a report on the Chinese experience

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Advances in Contraception

Abstract

Immediate postplacental insertion (IPPI) of the intrauterine device (IUD) has been practiced in China for at least 17 years. This presentation reviews and integrates the clinical experiences of IPPIs at five Chinese centers. The stainless-steel ring IUD was the most commonly used device for this procedure.

Our review indicates that: (a) IPPIs-both after vaginal delivery and at cesarean section-are medically safe and effective in preventing accidental pregnancies (given careful patient selection), and (b) the one-year life-table expulsion rates of IUDs inserted at cesarean section are lower than the rates for vaginal insertions after normal delivery. This review also discusses other issues, such as factors influencing expulsion rates.

Generally, IPPIs, whether performed via vagina or cesarean section, seem to be a method of choice for postpartum contraception. Some findings are, however, tentative; thus, further studies are needed.

Résumé

Il y a au moins 17 ans que se pratique en Chine l'insertion du dispositif intra-utérin (DIU) immédiatement après l'expulsion du placenta (méthode dite IPPI). Nous passons ici en revue l'expérience clinique de l'IPPI dans cinq centres de Planning familial en Chine. On utilise le plus souvent pour cette opération le stérilet en anneau d'acier inoxydable.

Notre étude met en évidence que (a) cette procédure-qu'elle fasse suite à un accouchement par voie vaginale ou par césarienne-ne présente aucun danger sur le plan médical et prévient véritablement les grossesses accidentelles (les patientes étant soigneusement sélectionnées) et que (b) les tables de survie sur un an indiquent que les stérilets mis en place lors de césariennes sont moins souvent expulsés que ceux qui ont été insérés par voie vaginale après accouchement normal. Cette étude examine également d'autres problèmes, comme par exemple les facteurs ayant une incidence sur les taux d'expulsion.

L'IPPI-par voie vaginale ou faisant suite à une césarienne-semble généralement être une méthode de choix pour la contrception post-partum. Certains résultats manquent cependant encore de précision, ce qui rend nécessaire une étude plus poussée.

Resumen

La inserción del dispositivo intrauterino (DIU) inmediatamente después de la expulsión de la placenta (método denominado IPPI) se realiza en China desde hace al menos 17 años. Se examina aquí la experiencia clínica con el IPPI en cinco centro chinos. El DIU de tipo anillo de acero inoxidable es el que más se utiliza en este procedimiento.

Nuestro estudio indica que (a) este procedimiento-tanto después del parto por vía vaginal o cesárea-no presenta peligros desde el punto de vista médico y es eficaz en la prevención de embarazos accidentales (con selección cuidadosa de pacientes) y que (b) las tablas de supervivencia al cabo de un año indican que los DIU insertados después de cesáreas son menos frecuentemente expulsados que los insertados por vía vaginal después de un parto normal. En este estudio se examinan asimismo otros problemas, tales como los factores que influyen sobre las proporciones de expulsión. El IPPI-por vía vaginal o después de una cesárea-parece ser en general en método de elección para la anticoncepción posparto. Sin embargo, algunos resultados son preliminares y se necesitan estudios más profundos.

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(this paper was prepared while the principal author was a visiting research fellow at Family Health International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA)

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Xu, JX., Connell, C. & Chi, IC. Immediate postpartum intrauterine device insertion — a report on the Chinese experience. Adv Contracept 8, 281–290 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02042586

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02042586

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