Objective: To evaluate the rate and pattern of complications associated with the use of CopperT-380A IUD amongst adolescents.
Study design: A prospective comparative study.
Methods: All women eligible for IUD insertion who attended the family planning clinic of Sohag University hospital, Egypt, between the first of July, 2008 and December 31, 2010 were invited to participate. The participants were allocated to adolescents (n=281) or adults (n=571). CopperT-380A IUD was inserted for all participants and follow-up visits were scheduled at one, three, and six months to report complications. The Odds ratio and Chi square test were used to compare the rates of complications during every visit.
Results: The rates of pain, bleeding, displacement, expulsion, and removal of the IUD were significantly higher in adolescents (p<0.05). The rates of these complications were markedly high in adolescents younger than the age of 16 years; the rates then decreased with age and became comparable to the adult rates at the age of 18 years.
Conclusions: IUD-associated complications were high in adolescents up to the age of 17 years. Adolescents younger than 18 years of age should be carefully counseled before IUD insertion, and more frequently examined to detect displacement, or expulsion of the device.