Case records and commentaries

Abstract

The use of intrauterine device in 147 patients treated in the Gynaecological Unit at the Kenyatta National Hospital for pelvic inflammatory disease, was compared with the use in a sexually active,age -parity, matched,control group. (34%) of the patients and (7.5%) of the controls were using an I.U.D. Thus the relative risk of developing P.I.D. was raised by 4.5 by I.U.D. use. More than half the P.I.D. cases (68%) were between the age group of 21 - 30 years, and in the same group the majority of the I. U. D. wearers were found. Among the I.U.D. users with P.I.D., 56% of the patients developed P.I.D. within the first week of the last menstrual Period and 78% within two wee ks of the menses. Only 8% of the cases developed P.I.D. within 3 months of insertion of I.U.D.; and it is significant that 50% of the cases had been using the device for 1 year. Oral contraceptives were being taken by more controls (33.3%) than patients (7.5%).