Mineral deposits formation in bioactive IUD's.

Mineral organic deposits have been observed in inert IUDs. The authors studied the presence of these deposits in bioactive IUDs. Inert, progesterone, and copper-releasing IUDs were removed at 12,24, and 36 months postinsertion. When the devices were cut between their vertical (body) and horizontal (arms) branches, both parts were processed independently. After laxly bound organic material was eliminated, the devices were extracted at 60 degrees Celsius for 90 minutes with 3N HC1, and finally all undissolved material was dissolved in 1N NaOH. In each fraction, protein and inorganic ions were measured. Mineral organic deposits were formed in all types of IUDs. The deposits increased with time in utero in a characteristic device-dependent pattern. The deposits were essentially made of proteins, sodium, and calcium ions and were higher on the inert Lippes Loop D (7.0 +or- 2.4 mg proteins; 2.8 +or- 0.85 mg calcium, and 0.138 +or- 0.048 mg sodium/device); less in the copper IUD (5.7 +or- 1.36 mg proteins, 0.89 +or- 0.12 mg calcium, and 0.180 +or- 0.046 mg sodium/device at 24 months); and even less in the progesterone-releasing IUDs (1.6 +or- 1.3 mg protein, 0.235 +or- 0.028 mg calcium, and 0.262 +or- 0.063 mg sodium/device).