Researchers from China found out in their recent study that use of Copper Intrauterine devices can be risky during pregnancy and it could compromise embryonic development.
Generally, IUDs (Intrauterine devices) are used to avoid pregnancy by women. But Women who use IUDs may become pregnant, albeit rarely, and many such women continue to use IUDs. Because it is difficult to remove or it may cause miscarriage.
Researchers measured the changes in human leucocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) levels in the decidua and villi to explore the effect of a copper IUD on embryonic development.
Researchers found out that level of HLA-G expression is not differing but level of IGF-II expression is decreased notably in comparison to the controlled group, who did not use copper IUD.
Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) is involved in the regulation of several stages of early pregnancy via autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine mechanisms [8]. IGF-II is an important regulator of early embryonic development, particularly placental development. Reduced IGF-II expression is associated with intrauterine growth restriction, pre-eclampsia, embryonic developmental abnormalities, and embryonic death.
Researchers concluded that Copper IUDs may reduce IGF-II expression in villus tissue, which could compromise embryonic development. Thus, use of an IUD during pregnancy may be risky.
The study is published in Growth Hormone & IGF Research.
