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A retrospective study was conducted in August 2009 to examine the rates of IUD discontinuation and reasons for removal among women who attended Marie Stopes International Philippines (MSI Philippines) IUD outreach services in June 2006, 2007, and June 2008.

A total of 1,347 women who benefited from MSI Philippines IUD outreach services were included in the study – 731 in 2008, 495 in 2007, and 121 in 2006. The majority were still using the method after the first two years of insertion (87-93%). The IUD discontinuation rate after three years was 16.5% among the 2006 cohort of women. The most common reasons for discontinuation cited by the women were: 1) the desire to become pregnant (23.8%); 2) the woman experienced abdominal pain (21.8%); and 3) the woman switched to a permanent method of contraception (16%).

This study revealed that a high percentage of MSI Philippines clients in rural outreach settings were still utilizing the IUD after three years. Mobile outreach has achieved a high volume of IUD insertions, with high quality, and with high continuation rates that exceed the National Demographic and Health Survey data on IUD continuation rates.