The intrauterine device (IUD) use in the Netherlands and the United States is limited to a small group of women, though the risk of infection and pregnancy is small. Therefore, it was of interest to investigate the characteristics of women who choose an IUD as contraceptive method and the influence of general practitioners concerning IUD insertion. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess differences between general practices and to investigate the characteristics of IUD users. Also, we wished to study changes in IUD use with time. Patients were selected from four academic general practices belonging to the continuous morbidity registration project in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The population under study included 461 women registered in the academic practices with a code for insertion of a new IUD in the period from 1981 to 2001. More than half of the women were between 25 and 34 years old at the time of insertion. Almost one quarter were nulliparous, one quarter unmarried and the distribution of socioeconomic status was the same as the entire practice population. General practitioners have clear preferences for certain types of IUD and, in particular, for not inserting an IUD in nulliparous women. In conclusion, married or cohabiting women, around 30 years of age, with children, are in the majority in receiving an IUD as contraception. General practitioners clearly follow their own opinions about inserting IUD in nulliparous women. Currently, general practitioners are prescribing more Multiload Cu 375 IUDs and levonorgestrel-releasing IUDs.