Objective: to compare the effectiveness of intrauterine device and the
barrier methods of contraception in the form of male condom during the
postoperative chemotherapy period in patients with breast cancer at the
reproductive age.
Study design: A randomized controlled clinical study enrolled married patients, aged ≤ 44 yearswith breast cancer scheduled for chemotherapy. Group (A) (n=51) randomly used intrauterine device and group < br />(B) (n=51) used male condom for contraception.
Results: Although patients' menstrual patterns showed no significant differences at the entry to the study, patients in group (A) showed heavier cycles when evaluated after 3m and again after 6m form the onset of
the chemotherapy. The duration of bleeding (mean ±SD) was 7.7±1.7 and
5.6±1.3 in group A and B respectively after 3m and significant changes in
the cycle length and the duration of bleeding after 6m had occurred. Likewise, the incidence of genital tract infection was higher in the group using
intrauterine device while receiving chemotherapy.
Conclusion: While intrauterinecontraceptive device was always considered as the method of choice for most of the malignant patients, this study
showed that it is more practical to use the barrier methods at least during
the chemotherapy cycles in order to minimize the associated hazards of
chemotherapy induced bone marrow depression on the safety of intrauterine device.