Copper IUDs not the cause of infertility among women

Women who use copper-containing intrauterine devices (IUDs) do not appear to be at an increased risk of future infertility, according to a latest study. The earlier findings linking IUDs with infertility caused many women to shun IUDs, a highly effective form of birth control. The researchers conducted a case-control study of nearly 2,000 women recruited between 1997-1999 in Mexico. Information was collected on the women's past use of contraceptives, including copper IUDs, previous sexual relationships, blood tests and history of genital tract infection. They found no association between the previous use of a copper IUD and infertility, which occurs when the fallopian tubes become blocked by an infection that can lead to scarring. The study found that women who were never pregnant and who had used a modern intrauterine device had no risk of infertility or their fallopian tubes becoming blocked. It suggested that the blockages seen in the IUD users were caused instead by chlymadia, a sexually transmitted disease. In other findings, women who had used IUDs for a longer period of time, and women with a history of gynaecologic symptoms during their use of IUDs were not at increased risk of infertility. The findings are reassuring for the millions of women worldwide who rely on IUDs for birth control. As they contradict some previous reports suggesting that copper-containing IUDs, which are incidentally the most commonly used type, could threaten the future fertility of women. In fact the copper IUD is much safer than as previously thought and is not a threat to the health or future fertility of women who use them, including those without children.