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Aim: The development of the 'frameless' intrauterine system (IUS) is a response to the growing need to develop high-performing, long-acting, reversible, and acceptable contraceptives with a high continuation of use. Methods: This is a review of 15 years of clinical experience in randomized controlled and non-randomized clinical trials. Results: The IUS has a similar failure rate as the TCu380A Intrauterine device (IUD), considered the 'golden standard' IUD, which is attributed to the optimal target delivery of the copper ions in the upper part of the uterine cavity. Its performance is further optimized by the atraumatic design, which reduces partial and total expulsion and minimizes the side-effects and discomforts experienced with conventional 'framed' IUDs. The mini IUS is likely to further reduce the menstrual blood loss due to the very small size. The safety of the anchoring concept is beyond doubt as was demonstrated in all clinical studies covering 15 000 woman-years experience. Conclusions: Young nulliparous/nulligravid and parous women may significantly benefit from the advantages the 'frameless' IUS, which could be strategically important to help in reducing the increasing number of unintended pregnancies and induced abortions worldwide. Furthermore, the 'frameless' IUS has been shown to be highly effective for emergency contraception and for immediate postabortal insertion. The long lifespan of the IUS could constitute a cost-effective reversible alternative to irreversible female sterilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the career profile of science professor Egon Richard Diczfalusy, who was born in Miskolc, Hungary, on 19 September 1920. It states that Diczfalusy graduated from Medical Faculty of Szeged University in 1944 and received several scientific awards in 1950 and early 1960 from the U.S. National Institute of Health and the Ford Foundation. As stated, in 1967, he was appointed as special research professor at the Swedish Medical Research Council.

Despite its 100 years old history, intrauterine contraception is still regarded as a modern method. Moreover, one could have witnessed its renewal in recent years. New devices have been introduced, which are not only simple modifications of the earlier ones in material, size and format, but were developed by quite new ideas and conceptions. These include the hormone-containing, the frameless and the Hungarian devices containing alloy (copper-silver, copper-gold) in their metal part. Another line of progress is marked by the new ways of applications, which are open both for the new and for the old types of devices. One of these possibilities is emergency contraception. The other one goes beyond contraception; it is intrauterine local hormonal treatment. The author presents these novelties by using partly international study results, but mainly personal data based on his own clinical experiences.