The Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUD) 1929 – Preventing Pregnancy

In 1929, German physician Ernst Gräfenberg published a report on the IUD (intrauterine device), a flexible silk ring that could be placed in a woman's uterus to prevent pregnancy. A year later, he reported on a ring covered with silver wire that was even more effective. What Dr. Gräfenberg did not know was that trace amounts of copper in the silver enhanced the device's effectiveness.

Unfortunately, when the Nazis came to power in 1933, Dr. Gräfenberg, who was Jewish, was forced to give up his position as head of obstetrics and gynecology at Britz-Berlin Municipal Hospital. He was imprisoned in 1937, but escaped to New York after supporters in the United States paid a large ransom for his release.

The precise mechanism of IUD action is still being investigated. Copper ions are thought to kill sperm. The device may also trigger the release of prostaglandins (hormone-like substances) and white blood cells by the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, causing attacks on sperm and eggs. Probably the most famous IUD is the Dalkon Shield, produced in the 1970s, which was unsafe because of several design flaws. These flaws allowed bacteria to enter the uterus, causing outcomes such as septicemia, miscarriage, and death.

Today, the modern IUD is the most widely used method of reversible contraception. Several types are popular contraceptive methods, including T-shaped IUDs built around a plastic frame covered with copper wire. The upper arms of the T keep the IUD in place at the top of the uterus. IUDs that release hormones such as a synthetic progesterone are also available. In addition to the leukocyte/prostaglandin contraceptive mechanism, these IUDs reduce ovulation and thicken cervical mucus, blocking sperm and preventing pregnancy.

Description of the Article Image: A model of a Mirena IUD inside the uterus. Sometimes called an intrauterine system, this device may contain a cylinder that releases a synthetic progestogen hormone.

Historical Figures Mentioned in This Article: Ernst Gräfenberg (1881–1957)

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