A minimalist technique for insertion of intrauterine devices
The world’s population is approaching 7 billion. As a general rule, the countries with the highest population have the least available healthcare resources, the most notable exception being the United States of America (USA). Most of these countries have an urgent need to reduce their populations. T...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PAGEPress Publications
2015-05-01
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| Series: | Healthcare in Low-resource Settings |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/hls/article/view/5067 |
| _version_ | 1797224709103812608 |
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| author | Norman David Goldstuck |
| author_facet | Norman David Goldstuck |
| author_sort | Norman David Goldstuck |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The world’s population is approaching 7 billion. As a general rule, the countries with the highest population have the least available healthcare resources, the most notable exception being the United States of America (USA). Most of these countries have an urgent need to reduce their populations. The intrauterine device (IUD) is used by the largest number of contraceptives world-wide and it has a proven record in reducing unwanted pregnancies. Its efficacy rate as a long-acting reversible contraceptive is matched only by subdermal implants which are not as cost effective. Although the rates of pelvic infection are elevated in many countries with low-resource health care systems, we now know that pelvic infection rates are independent of IUD usage. This is therefore no longer a contraindication for using IUDs on a large scale in family planning programs. The technique of IUD insertion as described in most textbooks and journals is unnecessarily complex and based on ritual rather than good clinical evidence. This is particularly interesting in that at a time where we prefer evidence based medicine there are still so many clinical practice sacred cows. This article advocates a simplification of the technique for inserting IUDs. The scientific rationale for simplifying the technique is presented, as well as evidence that it is as safe if not safer than the currently suggested methods, if used for the correct type of IUD acceptors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:57:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fb594cd98af54f16b8d6367c5ef5dc2e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2281-7824 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:57:25Z |
| publishDate | 2015-05-01 |
| publisher | PAGEPress Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare in Low-resource Settings |
| spelling | doaj.art-fb594cd98af54f16b8d6367c5ef5dc2e2024-04-03T17:28:45ZengPAGEPress PublicationsHealthcare in Low-resource Settings2281-78242015-05-013110.4081/hls.2015.50674303A minimalist technique for insertion of intrauterine devicesNorman David Goldstuck0Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape TownThe world’s population is approaching 7 billion. As a general rule, the countries with the highest population have the least available healthcare resources, the most notable exception being the United States of America (USA). Most of these countries have an urgent need to reduce their populations. The intrauterine device (IUD) is used by the largest number of contraceptives world-wide and it has a proven record in reducing unwanted pregnancies. Its efficacy rate as a long-acting reversible contraceptive is matched only by subdermal implants which are not as cost effective. Although the rates of pelvic infection are elevated in many countries with low-resource health care systems, we now know that pelvic infection rates are independent of IUD usage. This is therefore no longer a contraindication for using IUDs on a large scale in family planning programs. The technique of IUD insertion as described in most textbooks and journals is unnecessarily complex and based on ritual rather than good clinical evidence. This is particularly interesting in that at a time where we prefer evidence based medicine there are still so many clinical practice sacred cows. This article advocates a simplification of the technique for inserting IUDs. The scientific rationale for simplifying the technique is presented, as well as evidence that it is as safe if not safer than the currently suggested methods, if used for the correct type of IUD acceptors.http://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/hls/article/view/5067Intrauterine deviceInsertionGynaecology |
| spellingShingle | Norman David Goldstuck A minimalist technique for insertion of intrauterine devices Healthcare in Low-resource Settings Intrauterine device Insertion Gynaecology |
| title | A minimalist technique for insertion of intrauterine devices |
| title_full | A minimalist technique for insertion of intrauterine devices |
| title_fullStr | A minimalist technique for insertion of intrauterine devices |
| title_full_unstemmed | A minimalist technique for insertion of intrauterine devices |
| title_short | A minimalist technique for insertion of intrauterine devices |
| title_sort | minimalist technique for insertion of intrauterine devices |
| topic | Intrauterine device Insertion Gynaecology |
| url | http://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/hls/article/view/5067 |
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