A randomized controlled trial of coil removal prior to treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of removing coils on the treatment of mild and moderate pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

METHODS

Of 126 women who had mild to moderate PID during coil usage, 60 were treated following coil removal and 66 without. Clinical symptoms, findings of gynecologic examination, erythrocyte sedimentation rates (mm/h), leukocyte counts (mm(-3)) were recorded before and after treatment and recovery rates of symptoms and findings were compared with Chi-square and Fisher's absolute Chi-square tests. Student's t-test was used for the comparison of mean sedimentation rates and leukocyte counts.

RESULTS

Recovery rates of pelvic pain, purulent vaginal discharge, dysuria/frequency and dyspareunia and clinical improvements in abdominal and cervical tenderness were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the coil removed group.

CONCLUSIONS

Removing the coil before medical therapy, increases the rates of clinical improvement in mild to moderate PID.