A Doppler flow study of the uterine artery was performed using transvaginal sonography in 68 women, including 44 using an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) and 24 control women who were not using any method of contraception. Both the pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) were significantly lower in women with IUCD-induced bleeding than in those without abnormal vaginal bleeding (p < 0.001) or in women not using any method of contraception (p < 0.001). No significant variations in PI and RI levels (p > 0.05) were found with the duration of IUCD application or the duration of IUCD-induced bleeding in patients using the device. Also, no significant changes in blood flow indices were demonstrated between women using the device without abnormal vaginal bleeding and the control group. These preliminary results suggest that some women are more prone to develop IUCD-induced bleeding than others, and this bleeding may be due to decreased vascular resistance in the uterine artery. Transvaginal Doppler study of the uterine artery may be a helpful technique to identify such women.

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