DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED AND NEW IUDS

IS CONTRACTED TO RESEARCH, DEVELOP AND EVALUATE NEW AND IMPROVED INTERUTERINE DEVICES (IUDS) WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE SIDE EFFECTS, PRINCIPALLY PAIN, BLEEDING AND EARLY EXPULSION DURING THEFIRST 3 MONTHS OF USE. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: 1. REVIEWING AND SELECTING INERT AND MEDICATED DEVICES. 2. MODIFYINGBEST OF CURRENT IUDS TO OVERCOME EARLY SIDE EFFECTS WHILE PRESERVING ALREADY DEMONSTRATED DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS. (EXAMPLES WOULD BE APPLYING SURFACE COATINGS AND LOADING THE LIPES LOOP AND IUM; AND STRUCTURALLY REDESIGNING THE IUM TO SOFTEN OR ROUND SHARP EDGES). 3. MODIFYING IUDS HAVING DEMONSTRATED UNIQUE PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS. 4. DEVELOPING NEW IUDS FOR POST-ABORTAL, POST-PARTUM INSERTION. 5. EVALUATING IUD DESIGNS IN LIMITED CLINICAL TRIALS IN US. THESE TRIALS WILL BE CONDUCTED USING THE BATTELLE-DEVELOPED PLASTIC UTERINE METROLOGY DEVICE. 6. INTRODUCING MODIFIED IUDS, SHOWN PROMISING IN US TRIALS, INTO LARGER INTERNATIONAL TRIALS THROUGHTHE INTERNATIONAL FERTILITY RESEARCH PROGRAM (IFRP) CONTRIBUTOR NETWORK. 7. MAINTAINING A CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE OF ALL INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH CURRENT, IMPROVED AND NEW IUDS.8. FURTHER MODIFYING IMPROVED IUDS AND NEW DESGINS AND EXPANDING THE INTERNATIONAL TRIALS. IFRP WILL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. BENEFICIARIES WILL BE THE WOMEN OF LDC"S AND THE LDC FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMS. AID FUNDS PAY FOR TECHNICIANS" SALARY, FRINGE BENEFITS, FOR CONSULTANTS (CORE ADVISORY COMMITTEE), EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, TRAVEL, PUBLICATION COSTS, OVERHEAD, SALARIES SUPPORT; INCLUDING SALARY OF A FORMER PROJECT LEADER IN THE BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE"S IUD PROGRAM. THIS LEADER IS NOW THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR OF THIS PROGRAM.