silicon and Disease

IUDs are rigid and heavy thus irritating the endometrium. Their design accounts for many side effects and encourages pelvic infections. IUDs may even facilitate transmission of HIV. Since some health professionals and patients consider some IUDs to be harmful or unacceptable, researchers have worked on developing a newly designed IUD which meets the criteria for and ideal IUD. Some criteria include soft and flexible in nature and inside the uterus, safe, no migration, and light in weight. Taiwanese researchers have developed such an IUD. The silicone skeleton of the Wang SS (soft and safe) Copper 380 and 300 IUDs is bow-shaped with each arm of the bow tapering off from the middle and ending with a small rounded knob. Copper wire (0.31 mm x 380 sq mm or 0.31 mm x 300 sq mm) coils around the holeless vertical stem (3 cm). The monofilament nylon string is fixed in the middle of the stem by an enlarged top. Researchers designed the Wang SS Cu 300 for nulliparous women and the Wang SS Cu 380 for multiparous women. If physicians use a Wang IUD from a sterilized package, they can insert it without wearing sterile gloves. They need to clean the cervix. They must use a single tooth tenaculum to stabilize the uterus and to straighten the uterine axis. After placing the Wang IUD in the inserter, adjusting the flange, and putting the plunger on the inserter, they need to safely introduce the inserter into the uterine cavity to the point where the inserter touches the fundus or the flange touches the cervix. They then must push the plunger to insert the IUD. Insertion should be done immediately after menstruation. Clinicians need to conduct clinical trials to test the safety and effectiveness of the Wang Ss Cu IUDs.

Topics: Asia; Asia, Eastern; Birth Rate; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; China; Contraception; Demography; Developing Countries; Disease; Economics; Family Planning Services; Fertility; HIV Infections; Infections; Inorganic Chemicals; Intrauterine Devices; Intrauterine Devices, Copper; Nylons; Parity; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; Polyethylene; Polymers; Population; Population Dynamics; Research; Silicon; Silicones; Taiwan; Technology; Therapeutics; Virus Diseases

A physician in San Diego, California, developed a new cervical cap, "Fem Cap." A feasibility study (N = 121) showed that, at 1 year, it was 95.2% effective at preventing pregnancy. It became dislodged in 2 of 5 women who conceived, while the other 3 women did not use the cap during every act of intercourse. 8 women experienced dislodgement because they did not check to ensure proper placement over the cervix. Suction caused about 20% of the women to have difficulty removing the cap, but after several months of use, this problem was reduced to 2-3%. None of the sexual partners objected to the cap. The Fem Cap has an upturned brim which fits and adheres to the vaginal walls. The dome is shaped to completely cover the posteriorly longer and anteriorly shorter cervix. The groove between the brim and the done acts as a reservoir for the spermicide, keeping the vaginal wall from absorbing the spermicide, and for the sperm. Fem Cap's material, silicone rubber, is nonporous, nonreactive, and nonallergenic. It does not harbor microorganisms and can be cleaned easily and sterilized. The 24 mm cap is for nulliparous women. The 32 mm cap is for women who have undergone vaginal delivery. Women who cannot be fitted for either of these 2 sizes can almost always be fitted for the 28 mm size. Such women tend to include those who have undergone abortion or Cesarean section. Insertion is very easy. Health care providers can train patients in insertion and removal of Fem Cap in 15-20 minutes. The physician had developed a video on inserting and removing Fem Cap. Giving this video and written instructions to women in the study resulted in 90% learning very well how to use it. The safety and calmness of practicing in the privacy of one's own home contributed to this success. Estimated cost of the Fem Cap is about $60. Women can use it for about 3 years.

Topics: Americas; Behavior; California; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Clinical Trials as Topic; Communication; Contraception; Contraception Behavior; Contraceptive Devices, Female; Developed Countries; Disease; Family Planning Services; Infections; Inorganic Chemicals; Mass Media; North America; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Personal Satisfaction; Psychology; Research; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Silicon; Silicones; Spermatocidal Agents; Tape Recording; Therapeutics; United States; Videotape Recording

Topics: Disease; Face; Granuloma; Granuloma, Foreign-Body; Humans; Medical Records; Silicon; Silicon Dioxide; Skin; Skin Neoplasms

Topics: Disease; Female; Humans; Pruritus; Silicon; Silicones; Vulva; Vulvar Diseases