Title: Introduction
Course: Family Planning - Ethiopia (Full)

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) have a long history. The first IUD, developed and marketed around 1900, was designed to occupy both the vagina and the uterus. By 1928 it had been modified to occupy only the uterus, which is the design in use today. An intrauterine device (IUD) is an effective, safe, long-acting, cost-effective contraceptive method used in many countries, including Ethiopia. It consists of a small, flexible plastic device inserted into a woman’s uterus and is left in place for long periods of time, providing continuous protection against pregnancy for a minimum of 10 years. It is also known as an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD), and we commonly use this term in the rest of the session. The copper-bearing IUCD brand TCu-380A is widely available in Ethiopia, and is the subject of this session.

In this study session, you will learn about the definitions, types, and mechanism of actions, the advantages and disadvantages, precautions, and the common side effects of IUCDs.