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a) There should be one follow-up visit approximately one month after insertion; thereafter, there is no need for a fixed follow-up schedule.
b) The client should be strongly encouraged to come to the clinic anytime she has questions or problems, particularly if she has:
- late period (possible pregnancy),
- prolonged or excessive abnormal spotting or bleeding,
- abdominal pain or pain with intercourse,
- infection exposure (such as gonorrhea), abnormal vaginal discharge or pelvic pain especially with fever, or
- string missing or string seems shorter or longer.
c) Visits are encouraged for other preventive reproductive health care as available, including provision of condoms, when appropriate.
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a-c) A follow-up visit at 3 to 6 weeks is prudent as the peak incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) post-IUD insertion is at one month. Thereafter, there is no need for a fixed follow-up schedule. The best quality of care is to focus clinic resources and attention on those women who come back to the clinic with complaints or problems.
- Farley TM, Rosenberg MJ, Rowe PJ, Chen JH, Meirik O. Intrauterine devices and pelvic inflammatory disease: An international perspective. The Lancet 1992;339:785-788.
- Janowitz B, Dighe NM, Hubacher D, Petrick T. Assessing the impact of IUD revisits. Family Health International. Presented at a meeting of the American Public Health Association in San Francisco, California, October 1992.
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