Copper I.U.D.-cancer link claims criticised

Press, 20 February 1980, Page 3

Copper I.U.D.-cancer link claims criticised

PA Auckland Statements linking copper intra-uterine contraceptive devices with a cancer-caus-ing agent are irresponsible, according to an Auckland obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Jennifer Wilson. Her criticism comes after the head of an Australian research team, Professor Michael Briggs, said that a significant number of women using the copper I.U.D.s showed traces of malonaldehyde, a cancercausing chemical. Dr Wilson said that the research team’s findings should have been published in the “Medical Journal before being made public.” “It is very irresponsible for someone to go to the press on matters like this. Professor Briggs should have made a report to the journal so that doctors could read and evaluate it,” she said. . The team at Deakin University, Geelong, had issued a press release but had not produced a scientific publication. Dr Wilson said that’ she had attended a conference on I.U.D.’s at Amsterdam last June, “and not one case of cancer from the use of copper I.U.D.s hasbeen found.”

She would not tell any .of her 2000 patients fitted .with I.U.D.s to have them removed. “However, some women will not be. reassured, and will insist that their I.U.D.s be taken out,” she said.

“We live in a porridge of substances,

but most of us live out our three score years and ten,” said the Christchurch Medical Officer of Health (Dr; W. A. Malpress) yesterday.

“There is more concern for the serious dangers such as smoking,” he said. “It has even been suggested that oxygen, which we cannot do without, causes cances in some people.” Dr Malpress said that he wished to reassure people that the I.U.D. was a good, Safe method of contraception. If any connection between -the copper I.U.D. and cancer existed this would be established in the next year or two, and nothing would be gained by dispensing with I.U.D.s in the meantime.

Women had used copper I.U.D.’s for years, and if they caused cancer there would have been complaints already, he said. 1 ’ E . " “My wife uses a copper 1.U.D., and I am perfectly happy for her to; do so,” Dr Malpress said. Professor Briggs -said in Geelong yesterday Chat a report on his findings, would appear in the medical journal, they ? “Lancet,” , next week. ;.- ' : : ■ I ■

He said. that Deakin University was running a summer school, at which a new electro-chemical process which measured traces of substances such as malonaldehyde was being tried. “The press picked up the work we are doing with malonaldeyde and copper I.U.D.s through thg summer school I just them a

copy of the letter we have sent to the ’’Lancet- on our findings.” Professor Briggs said that women should not panic and have their I.U.D.s removed, but he was still confident of the association between the chemical and copper I.U.D.s.

The method his team was working on was not widely used, but it showed levels of malonaldehyde not previously detected.