Risk of pelvic inflammatory disease among users of intrauterine devices, irrespective of previous pregnancy.

The use of an intrauterine device (IUD) in 690 patients hospitalized for acute salpingitis (pelvic inflammatory disease) was compared with IUD use in a sexually active age-matched control group. Two hundred and twenty (31.9%) of the patients and 114 (16.5%) of the controls were wearing IUDs. Thus, the relative risk of developing acute salpingitis was 2 among IUD users. No significant difference was found in IUD use in the two groups between nulligravid women and women who had been pregnant. It was shown furthermore that the use of the oral contraceptives decreases the risk of salpingitis by two thirds. A lower frequency of gonorrhea among PID patients who were IUD users was revealed also.