Page 34 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 20

Health & Healing

(ParaGard), which consists of a
says that one of its mechanisms of which was the most popular IUD in flexible T-shape containing cop-
action is “alteration of the endome- use for several years in the United per collars on both arms and a
trium.” States, was of this type. It was with- copper coil along the stem and
drawn from the market in 1984 due is supposedly good for six years
In summary, every IUD ever man- to a number of maternal deaths. of sterility.
ufactured prevents implantation, • The second type of IUD is
meaning that they are all abortifa- Other IUDs, including the Proges- loaded with a total of 52 milli-
cients. terone-T, were loaded with varying grams of levenorgestrel (LNG
doses of progesterone crystals that an artificial progestin) and
These devices ensure that the uterus were usually suspended in silicone releases it at a rate of about 20
is as barren and hostile to new life oil. This IUD released about 24 micrograms per day, declining
as a desert. In fact, this abortifacient milligrams of progesterone a year. to 14 micrograms per day after
action is so efficient that scientists It was originally promoted under five years.10 Liletta and Mirena
recommending the IUD for “emer- the truly Orwellian label “Uterine are in this class of IUD.
gency contraception” note that only Therapeutic System.” • The third type is the lower-dose
one in 1,100 women will remain IUDs, which have 13.5 to 19.5
pregnant after inserting the device The copper IUDs (including the grams of levenorgestrel and are
from two days to two weeks after “Copper-7,” “Copper-T” and effective for about three years.
their last unprotected intercourse. “Tatum-T”) discharged from 50 to The Skyla and Kyleena IUDs
75 micrograms of ionic copper into are in this class.
Controversy over the IUD the uterus each day. These copper
The first modern-day IUD, the ions interfere with the life-sustaining Complications Associated
Grafenberg Ring, was placed on functions that regulate implantation
the market in 1915. Several other of the new human life in the uterus. with IUD Use
companies immediately saw the Copper has been proven to be the According to their patient infor-
opportunity for profit, and by the active agent in these IUDs because mation pamphlets, complications
mid-1930s, there was a proliferation identical devices are ineffective with- associated with the IUDs in current
of IUDs for sale. They sported out the element. Each copper IUD use include:
intimidating names such as the is effective at causing early abortions
Sterilette, the Collar-Button, the for about four years. • sterility
Wishbone, the Silkworm Pust, and There are five IUDs currently [in • hemorrhage
the Star. 2022] available on the American • perforation of the uterus,
market: colon, bladder, or small or large
Some of the devices were of good intestine
quality, but many were made of • The first type is the non-hor- • cervical lacerations
“cheaper, noncorrosive metals, or monal Copper T 380A • cervical dysplasia (developmen-
of celluloid, bakelite, and chromi- tal abnormalities)
um-plated metals rather than gold.”5
According to one expert at the time,
“Sometimes these [cheaper IUDs]
were claimed to be made of solid
gold in order to enhance the price,
and a few practitioners took eco-
nomic advantage of the need and
ignorance of women.”

More than 70 different types of
IUDs have been manufactured over
the last century. Some of these
have consisted of polyethylene with
barium sulfate so they could be de-
tected by X-rays. The Dalkon Shield,

34 | we tell the true afrikan story