Barrier Contraception: A Reevaluation

Abstract

The “pill” and IUD have been the contraceptives of choice for millions of women all over the world in recent years. The advent of these methods signaled a decline in the use of barrier methods. In view of numerous serious adverse and medical complications reported with the pill, such as the increased risk of thromboembolic disease and other side effects, as well as those associated with the IUD, many women have been deterred from their use. Furthermore, it seems that the era of the IUD, initiated by Gräfenberg and revived by Oppenheimer in the late 1950s, is unfortunately approaching its end. One of these devices, the Dalcon shield, caused problems and was consequently voluntarily removed from the market, after the manufacturers faced skyrocketing legal costs and filed a bankruptcy action in 1985 (14 000 women brought suits for damages allegedly caused by this device). Unfortunately, the production of other IUDs, such as the Lippes loop, Tatum T, and Copper T has now been suspended in the United States.