Revival of the intrauterine device: increased insertions among US women with employer-sponsored insurance, 2002-2008

BackgroundUse of the intrauterine device (IUD) in the United States has recently increased. New evidence for women with employer-sponsored health insurance permits analysis of variation and trends in such use.Study DesignA retrospective analysis of annual IUD insertion rates between 2002 and 2008 was conducted by evaluating claims from the MarketScan® Commercial Research Databases for US women insured by plans that covered IUD insertions. Estimates were weighted to be nationally representative.ResultsIUD insertion rates increased from 1.6/1000 women of reproductive age to 9.8/1000 over 2002-2008 and varied substantially by state. Insertion rates of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) increased from 0.4/1000 to 7.7/1000, whereas the insertion rates of copper T380A IUD (copper IUD) increased from 0.6/1000 to 1.5/1000. IUD insertions, which are most common among women aged 25-34 years, increased at roughly the same rate across all age groups.ConclusionsThe sixfold increase in IUD insertion rates between 2002 and 2008 was accompanied by an increase in the share IUD use with the LNG-IUS from 40% to 85%. Substantial geographic and age variations existed.