Comparative randomized study of the copper-T 200 and Dalkon Shield intrauterine devices

The Dalkon Shield (DS) and the Copper-T 200 (CT) devices were randomly inserted in 1015 women (6477 woman-months) at the University of Florida family planning clinic in the 1st year of a study from 1972-1974. None of the event rates between the 2 devices reached significant difference. The pregnancy rates tended to be lower with the CT and the expulsion rates lower with the DS device. 2 uterine perforations occurred in the CT group, and 20 women developed acute pelvic infmalmatory disease associated with pregnancy, in DS users. Therefore, since the CT gives equally good performance rates, it should replace the DS in family planning practice.