Affiliation:
1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
Abstract
Infertility is one of the reproductive health issues that affects 10%–15% of couples. There are different factors causing infertility: male factors, female factors, and combinations of them. Knowing the causes of infertility is very important for treatment, and looking for them starts with a simple physical examination and progresses to invasive diagnostic procedures. Although it is rare, there are reports of unnoticed and forgotten intrauterine contraceptive devices causing infertility in different parts of the world. This is a case series of three women who had 3–5 years of infertility consultations and were discovered to have an unnoticed intrauterine contraceptive device. All of them had intrauterine contraceptive devices inserted years before they came to the clinic for an infertility work-up and were unaware of that. These intrauterine contraceptive devices were inserted at different health institutions without any counselling, consent, or information given to the women. The purpose of this case series is to remind health care providers that they should provide counselling, ensure that she understands the type, advantages, and disadvantages of contraception, and that her choices are based on voluntary, informed decision-making before providing any type of contraception to any woman.