Inhibands were inserted into 236 parous women who were followed for a 2-year period. During the study, 46 women underwent elective hysterectomy and 41 patients were lost to followup; thus, the data are not suitable for the preferred life table method of analysis. Pregnancy occurred in 25 patients, expulsion in 14 and the device had to be removed for medical reasons in 53. One perforation occurred 6 months after insertion, and in 11 of 24 specimens examined at hysterectomy, the device was embedded, usually in the lower uterine segment. Side effects, such as bleeding and cramping, were reported by over 50% of the patients during the study. The incidence of serious problems, such as pregnancy, embedding and inability to remove the device, probably due to embedding, increased with time.