Intra-uterine device

Intra-uterine device Intra-uterine device, spring coil, plastic, 1of 2, 1970-1981

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Intra-uterine device, spring coil, plastic, 1of 2, 1970-1981
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Intra-uterine device, spring coil, plastic, 1of 2, 1970-1981

Its distinctive shape gives this plastic intrauterine device (IUD) its more common name of the coil. It is shown on the right with other IUDs. An IUD is a contraceptive worn inside the uterus. It works after conception. An IUD stops a newly fertilised embryo implanting and growing in the lining of the uterus. IUDs became popular in the 1960s and 1970s. However, scares and litigation in the 1980s made them less common. More successful varieties were introduced in the 1990s. The IUD is now the most inexpensive long-term reversible method of contraception available.

Details

Category:
Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Contraception
Object Number:
1981-1396 Pt7
Materials:
plastic
Measurements:
overall: 35 mm x 35 mm x 3.5 mm, .01kg
type:
intra-uterine device
credit:
Institute of Population Studies