Serum and endometrial copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and serum cobalt (Co) were measured in the mid-follicular and mid-luteal phases of the menstrual cycles in 30 Lippes loops users, 30 CuT-200 IUCD users and 24 matched controls by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In the control group, there was no statistically significant difference in mean mid-luteal, compared to mid-follicular, levels of serum Cu, Zn, Fe and Co and endometrial Zn. Mid-luteal endometrium contained significantly higher mean Cu, and lower mean Fe levels. In Lippes loop users, compared to controls, the only statistically significant differences were lower mean mid-follicular serum Zn, lower mean endometrial Zn and Fe, and higher mean mid-luteal endometrial Fe. In CuT-200 users, compared to controls, there was significantly higher mean mid-follicular serum Zn and lower mean mid-luteal serum Co, higher mean mid-follicular endometrial Cu and lower mean mid-follicular endometrial Fe levels. Compared to Lippes loop, CuT-200 users had significantly higher mean mid-follicular serum Co and endometrial Cu and Zn, and lower mean mid-follicular endometrial Fe.
PIP: Serum and endometrial copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and serum cobalt (Co) were determined on menstrual cycle Day 6-9 or 9-22 in 30 women with Lippes loops, 30 with CuT-200 IUDs, and 24 controls. The women were clients of the family planning and gynecology clinic of Benha University Hospital, Egypt. Endometrial samples were obtained with a fine Sharmans currette. In controls, the only differences between the mid-follicular and mid-luteal phase were higher Cu and lower Fe levels in the endometrium in the luteal phase. Lippes loop users had lower follicular serum Zn, lower mean endometrial Zn and Fe, and higher mid-luteal endometrial Fe than controls. The CuT-200 IUD group had higher follicular serum Zn and lower luteal serum Co and higher follicular endometrial Cu and lower follicular endometrial Fe levels. The CuT-200 group also had higher follicular serum Co and endometrial Cu and Zn and lower follicular endometrial Fe than did the Lippes loop group.