Subsequent fertility for patients presenting with an ectopic pregnancy and having an intra-uterine device in situ.

Of 503 ectopic pregnancies (EP) dealt with surgically using conservative laparoscopic techniques, 153 (30.4%) occurred in patients with an intra-uterine device (IUD) in situ. Examination of the characteristics of the EP revealed that the fimbrial location was more frequent among patients with an IUD whereas a significantly higher proportion were located in the isthmus in the group of patients without an IUD. Whereas the condition of the tubal wall did not differ according to the presence or absence of an IUD, adhesions and obstructed or non-existent contralateral tubes were significantly less frequent among patients with an IUD in situ. Two hundred and twenty three patients desired pregnancy, 30 of whom had an IUD in situ when the EP was diagnosed. The subsequent fertility for these 30 patients with an IUD was shown by rates for intrauterine pregnancy (IUP), recurrent EP and infertility of 96.7, 3.3 and 0% respectively. These results were significantly better than those for women who had no IUD, the figures for this group being 59, 13.4 and 27.4%, respectively. The favourable prognosis was due solely to the fact that women with an IUD had far fewer negative antecedents and that the EP probably occurred due to impaired ciliary action which is reversible when the IUD is removed.