Intrauterine devices: present and future.

Although the mortality associated with the use of intrauterine contraception is low, its morbidity is probably higher than that associated with oral contraception. Much anxiety has been generated and whole programs prejudiced by lack of attention to detail during counseling, the fitting of intrauterine devices and follow-up. This paper draws attention to the shared etiology of many of the important adverse effects of the method, the fact that several become increasingly rare with increasing age of the user, and other factors that can assist in choosing the right device for the right woman. Likely future trends are also predicted.