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© 2006 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
J Ultrasound Med 25:153-157 • 0278-4297

Doppler Color Flow Analysis of the Uterine Arteries Before and After Intrauterine Device Insertion

A Prospective Study

Marco Aurélio Martins de Souza, MD and Selmo Geber, MD, PhD

Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (M.A.M.d.S., S.G.); and Serviços de Medicina Especializada, Montes Claros, Brazil (M.A.M.d.S.).

Address correspondence to Selmo Geber, MD, PhD, Avenida Contorno 7747, Lourdes, 30110-120 Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil. E-mail: sjgeber{at}terra.com.br

Objective. An intrauterine device (IUD) is one of the most frequently used methods of birth control around the world. Although a relationship between its use and menstrual disorders has been well documented, only a few studies have tried to show whether there are any vascular modifications. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of an IUD on uterine artery blood flow using Doppler assessment. Methods. A total of 100 patients selected for IUD use were prospectively evaluated with Doppler analysis before and 30 days after insertion. The resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were used to evaluate uterine artery vascular resistance. Patients were allocated in 2 groups according to whether they were (group 2) or were not (group 1) lactating.Results. The PI and RI of the patients in groups 1 and 2 before and after IUD insertion were not statistically significantly different (P = .298 and .23). When we compared uterine artery blood flow indices before and after IUD insertion for groups 1 and 2 separately, we observed in group 1 that the mean ± SD PI values were 2.45 ± 0.62 and 2.55 ± 0.55 (P = .38) and the RI values were 0.87 ± 0.08 and 0.87 ± 0.06 (P = .88) before and after IUD insertion, respectively. In group 2, the PI values were 2.31 ± 0.55 and 2.37 ± 0.69 (P = .68) and the RI values were 0.85 ± 0.07 and 0.86 ± 0.07 (P = .44) before and after IUD insertion. Finally, we used the mean blood flow indices of the uterine arteries of all patients to compare the effect of IUD insertion. Results were also not statistically significant when we compared PI and RI before and after IUD insertion. Conclusions. The presence of an IUD does not interfere with the vascular resistance of the uterine arteries that can be shown by Doppler flow assessments 1 month after insertion.

Key Words: contraception • Doppler color flow • intrauterine device • sonography • uterine artery

Abbreviations: IUD, intrauterine device • PI, pulsatility index • RI, resistive index

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Copyright © 2006 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.