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The CDC's U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2010 recommends intrauterine devices (IUDs) as contraceptive options for adolescent and nulliparous women. Despite growing acceptance of IUDs and other highly effective reversible contraceptives, uptake by younger women remains low, with only 4.5% of adolescents using long-acting methods. In a retrospective chart review conducted at three large medical centers, 2138 teens and women who had IUDs placed between June 1, 2008 and June 30, 2011 were stratified into three age groups (13–19, 20–24, and 25–35 years).
During a median follow-up of 37 months, the overall IUD expulsion rate was 6%. Expulsion rates did not differ significantly among age groups, although partial expulsions…