Outcome of pregnancy in the presence of intrauterine device.

The outcome of 196 pregnancies with Lippes Loop in situ was studied. In 102 cases with inaccessible thread, the IUD was left in place. Ninety-four women had the IUD removed when the thread was still visible. The incidence of spontaneous abortion and premature delivery was 56.8% in the group of 102, and was significantly higher than in those women whose loop was removed. No serious complications occurred in any of the cases. The results suggested that the IUD should be removed early in pregnancy when the string is still accessible.