Can intrauterine device removals for bleeding or pain be predicted at a one-month follow-up visit? A multivariate analysis.
From 4%-14% of intrauterine device (IUD) users have their IUD removed due to bleeding or pelvic pain in the first year of use. Past studies have analyzed whether baseline patient information can help predict such removals, but no previous analysis has examined whether information provided at the recommended 1-month follow-up visit could improve such predictions. Using data from an international multicenter randomized controlled trial, 89 women with removals for bleeding and pain after the 1-month visit were compared with 2536 continuing users. Logistic regression indicated several significant predictors of removal. Women reporting intermenstrual bleeding since last menses were nearly three times more likely to have removals for bleeding or pain (odds ratio [OR] 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4-5.9). Similarly, those complaining of excessive menstrual flow were 3.5 times more likely to have removals within 12 months (95% CI 1.4-9.2). Women reporting these menstrual problems during scheduled revisits may benefit from counseling and treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).