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Dalkon Shield

American  
[dal-kon] / ˈdæl kɒn /
Pharmacology, Trademark.
  1. a brand name for an intrauterine contraceptive device withdrawn from the market in 1974, having been associated with an increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease and spontaneous abortion in women who used it.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

IUDs were saddled with a bad reputation in the United States due to a defective device, the Dalkon Shield, marketed in the 1970s, which caused severe infections and even deaths.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 1, 2023

We had thalidomide, we had DES, we had Dalkon Shield because of unregulated things.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2021

For decades IUDs had a bad image after the Dalkon Shield, a poorly designed device from the 1970s, caused infections, infertility and even death in tens of thousands of women.

From Scientific American • Apr. 25, 2019

IUDs have a bad reputation because an early version sold in the 1960s called the Dalkon Shield was linked to pelvic infections that caused infertility.

From US News • Jul. 25, 2016

Many people still associate IUDs with the Dalkon Shield, a device marketed in the early 1970s that led to severe infections, infertility and death.

From Washington Post • Feb. 17, 2012

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