Contraindications to intrauterine device use

What it is

Contraindications to intrauterine device use are the conditions in which an IUD should not be used. The list is data from the US Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2010, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: first current pregnancy, second purulent cervicitis, then the nine that follow. IUD is the abbreviation for intrauterine device.

The contraindications are:

• Current pregnancy
• Purulent cervicitis
• Current pelvic inflammatory disease
• Immediate postseptic abortion
• Puerperal sepsis
• Current gestational trophoblastic disease
• Current cervical cancer
• Untreated endometrial cancer
• Unexplained vaginal bleeding
• Distorted uterine cavity
• Pelvic tuberculosis

Several entries turn on one word as much as on the diagnosis. Cervicitis is listed when it is purulent; pelvic inflammatory disease, gestational trophoblastic disease and cervical cancer when they are current; endometrial cancer when it is untreated; abortion when it is postseptic and immediate; and vaginal bleeding while it is unexplained. Pelvic tuberculosis and a distorted uterine cavity carry no such word.