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Background: The study was conducted to compare the antifertility effectiveness and side effects of the copper/low-density polyethylene nanocomposite IUD (experimental group) and the copper T220C IUD (control group)., Study Design: One hundred females were randomly divided into two groups (experimental group and control group, n = 50 in each group). Clinical observation and comparative study were performed on the two groups for 12 months., Results: Follow-up rate was 100% at the 12th month. In the experimental group and control group, the cumulative continuation rates were both 92.0 per 100 women at the 12th month and there was no difference between them (p > .05). The pregnancy rate, removal rate and expulsion rate were low with the difference being not statistically significant (p>.05). The most common side effects were excessive menstrual bleeding, spotting and pain. The rates of side effects were lower in the experimental group than in control group, especially during the initial 3 months after insertion with the differences being statistically significant (p < .05)., Conclusion: The new design of the copper/low-density polyethylene nanocomposite IUD showed low pregnancy rate, high contraceptive efficacy and satisfactory acceptability. The study suggested that the TCu220C IUD also had high contraceptive efficacy, but had relatively more side effects.

Purpose: The study was conducted to investigate the antifertility effectiveness of copper/low-density polyethylene nanocomposite (nano-Cu/LDPE) and its influence on the endometrial environment in rats., Methods: One hundred and seventy sexually mature female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham-operated control group (SO group, n=10), bulk copper group (Cu group, n=40), LDPE group (n=40), and nano-Cu/LDPE groups I (n=40) and II (n=40). Twenty rats in each group except for the SO group were mated with male rats of proven fertility, from 30 days after insertion, and the antifertility rates (ATs) were observed at Day 11 of pregnancy. The concentrations of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in the endometrium of the remaining rats in each group were measured by using ELISA at the 30th and 60th day after insertion, respectively., Results: ATs in the Cu group and nano-Cu/LDPE groups I and II (100%) were significantly higher than those in the LDPE group (p<.05). Compared with those in the SO group, the concentrations of PGE(2) and tPA in all experimental groups except for PGE(2) levels in the LDPE group were significantly increased at Day 30 after insertion, and these parameters in the nano-Cu/LDPE groups were significantly lower than in the Cu group (p<.05). At Day 60 after insertion, tPA levels were still higher in the Cu and nano-Cu/LDPE groups, but there was no difference in PGE(2) levels in all groups except for the Cu group., Conclusion: Nano-Cu/LDPE exhibits satisfactory contraceptive efficacy with less influence on the endometrium PGE(2) and tPA levels.

With the development of IUDs, a number of copper-bearing devices are now commercially available, including the copper-T, the Multiload and the copper-T in various other forms, so-called "the second-generation" IUDs. In this article, we report on nano-Cu/low-density polyethylene composite as a potential copper carrier in IUD. Two issues for the new material are addressed: the effectiveness of polymers in reducing the initial burst in cupric ion release and the amount and pattern of continuing release. The aim of this study was to investigate copper ion release from this composite as a basis for considering its used in an IUD.