The effect of copper intrauterine device use duration on uterine and ovarian blood flow parameters: A prospective cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to compare uterine and ovarian arterial Doppler signals in regularly menstruating patients who had been using copper intrauterine devices (IUD) for different durations. METHODS Four groups of participants were formed (n = 30 for each) depending on the duration of copper IUD use: less than 1 year (group 1), 1 to 3 years (group 2), and over 3 years (group 3). Women without IUDs formed the control group. All participants were called in on the fifth-eighth days of their menstrual cycle for Doppler blood flow assessment. The pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) values were recorded in uterine and ovarian arteries. RESULTS The groups 2 and 3 had significantly higher uterine artery PI and RI values than groups 1 and 4. Furthermore, group 2 had uterine and ovarian artery PI and RI values similar to those of group 3. There was a positive relationship between uterine and ovarian arteries' PI and RI values with the duration of IUD use. CONCLUSIONS The presence of an IUD for over a year seems to cause changes in the uterine artery PI and RI values assessed by Doppler ultrasonography.