Introduction and Aim: The intrauterine device (IUD) is a long-acting, reversible contraceptive method inserted into the uterus and represents the second most widely used modern family planning method worldwide. Given the challenges and adverse experiences reported by women during IUD use, this study aims to explore women’s experiences with IUDs and their perspectives on the development of an innovative, application-supported IUD model designed to enhance safety and usability.Material and Method: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2023 and March 2024 at a tertiary obstetrics training and research hospital. The sample consisted of 200 women attending the outpatient clinic who were current IUD users and provided voluntary informed consent. Data were collected using a 41-item structured questionnaire developed by the research team, and analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Ethical approval was obtained from the relevant institutional review board prior to data collection.Results: Participants’ mean age was 34.6±5.88 years, and the mean duration of marriage was 12±5.68 years. Among participants, 41.5% were high school graduates, 54% were employed, 28.5% reported smoking, and 27% had a chronic disease. The primary reason for selecting an IUD was its perceived effectiveness in preventing pregnancy (45%). Nearly half of the participants (49.5%) reported experiencing problems during IUD use, with 37.5% indicating difficulty in verifying device placement. Furthermore, 67% were unaware of recent innovations in IUD technology but expressed interest in the development of safer, innovative alternatives. Features of a proposed innovative IUD—including enhanced comfort, smaller size, ease of application, and integration with a mobile phone–based alert system—were positively received by the majority of participants.Conclusions and Recommendations: Although participants were generally aware of IUD use, many experienced difficulties that highlight the need for solution-oriented, user-friendly innovations. The positive perception of application-supported IUD features underscores the potential of integrating technological solutions into contraceptive services to improve safety, adherence, and user satisfaction.
Merih et al. (Sat,) studied this question.