Cervical bacterial flora in women fitted with a copper-releasing intra-uterine contraceptive device (IUD).

A bacterial culture was taken from the cervix in 85 sexually active women before, and 3 and 6 months after, insertion of either a copper-releasing or an inert intra-uterine contraceptive device (IUD). Sixty had a Copper-T (TCu-200) and 25 a Lippes loop D. Although in more than a quarter of the patients the bacterial flora increased slightly in diversity and abundance after IUD insertion, there was no difference in effect between the TCu-200 and Lippes loop D.