Management of the lost IUD.

Records of twenty-six patients who presented at the University College Hospital, Ibadan with 'lost' IUDs between 1 July 1980 and 30 April 1982 were analysed. During the 22-month study period there were 3476 IUD insertions. Routine evaluation showed that eighteen IUDs (69.2%) were intrauterine whilst eight IUDs (30.8%) were extrauterine. Seventeen (65.4%) intrauterine devices were recovered by routine D and C. Of the eight extrauterine devices, six (23.1%) were removed by laparoscopy, one (3.8%) was removed by laparotomy and one (3.8%) was removed by colpotomy. It is concluded that it is preferable for all extrauterine devices to be removed in order to discourage psychosomatic symptomatology commonly associated with forgotten devices.