Menstrual bleeding pattern and iron status in women fitted with copper and non-medicated intrauterine contraceptive devices.

A prospective study of the menstrual bleeding pattern and iron status was conducted in 42 healthy Nigerian women volunteers before and after being fitted with either a medicated, copper T (TCu.200B) (n = 20) or a non-medicated, Lippes loop (n = 22) intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD). After about six months of use, the mean fasting serum iron and packed cell volume (PCV) were significantly higher (+32% and +6% respectively), mean serum ferritin was significantly decreased (-14%) compared to the pre-insertion levels in the copper T IUD users. In the Lippes loop IUD users, mean fasting serum iron was significantly lower (-11%), mean PCV was higher (+5%). The changes observed in the mean levels of serum ferritin and the duration of menstrual bleeding did not reach a statistical significant level. Among the two groups, only the changes in the mean fasting serum iron was significant (P < 0.01). In all, only the women fitted with Lippes loop IUDs had a decrease in the levels of both serum iron and body iron stores (ferritin), however, no clinical anaemia was observed at six months of use.