The author's study of 74 pregnancies where an IUD had been inserted was unable to find any tangible reason for the failure of the contraceptive in 40 cases. In 26 cases, dislocation of the spiral was established, while in eight cases anatomical changes were presumed to be the reason for conception. Of the 154 "spiral pregnancies" recorded in Upper Austria in the study period (1984-1985), 92 (i.e., 77.3% of the 119 intact intrauterine pregnancies) culminated in termination, while there were 35 extrauterine pregnancies (22.7%). Of the remaining 27 pregnancies which went to term, there was not a single case of septic complication in the mother or of abnormality in the child. In the author's opinion this argument would seem to present a well-founded challenge to the widespread view that, for the sake of the mother or the fetus, termination is to be recommended if an IUD has been inserted.