Contraceptive check

Press, 29 February 1980, Page 7

Contraceptive check

Annual cervical smears are recommended by the New Zealand Family Planning Association for all its patients using the contraceptive pill or the copper I.U.D. “This is a routine practice for us,” said Dr Helen McGill, South Island deputy president of the association.

She was commenting on the advice of the leader of the Australian research team whose findings have linked the copper I.U.D. with cancer. Professor Michael Briggs, of Deakin University in Melbourne, has said he would not recommend that copper LU.D.s should be withdrawn from use. He recommends women using copper LU.D.s to have an annual cervical smear.

Last week Professor Briggs announced his team had discovered traces of the cancer-causing agent malonaldehyde in women using copper LU.D.s. The Press Association says Auckland family planning clinics were flooded with calls from anxious patients, some demanding that the device be removed. Christchurch women are apparently not panicking.

about the Australian research. The Christchurch Family Planning Clinic has received only two inquiries from patients using the copper device.

“We have many women using the 1.U.D.,” said Dr McGill. “Of course, we are always concerned that when reports like this appear women will become alarmed and not want to go on using the contraceptive. This can lead to unwanted pregnancies.” New Zealand women have been advised to ignore the Australian findings. Dr Margaret Tillot, a senior medical officer of the F.P.A., says there is no reason to believe there is any risk associated with the use of copper LU.D.s “This sort of scaremongering has in the past led to women discontinuing with the contraceptive and becoming pregnant. We’re afraid the same thing will happen here.” Profesor Briggs said from Melbourne recently that it was not known if the malonaldehyde was carcinogenic or not at the level at which it had been found. “Anyway, it may be that, because the lining of

the uterus is shed each month, it is protected against a carcinogen. I do not think that with the copper I.U.D. there is an increased risk of cancer of the lining of the uterus.

“The cervical canal could be at risk, but that can be spotted very early with a cervical smear,” he said.

Professor Briggs said that before any conclusions could be drawn from his team’s findings, there would have to be a lot more research involving a larger group of women.