Denmark: spiral mass of Inuit

In the 1960s–1970s, Denmark conducted the 'Spiralkampagnen'—a mass installation of intrauterine devices in Inuit girls and women without their consent. According to participants, by 1970 nearly half of women aged 15 to 45 had suffered from this intervention. A sharp decline in Inuit birth rates, chronic pain, infections, infertility, and deep psychological trauma were reported. Many women only learned about the IUDs years later, when they could no longer conceive or suffered from pain. One recollection was recorded as 'it felt as if glass had shattered inside my stomach.' Experts describe this incident as an example of genocide by Danish authorities, emphasizing the severe demographic consequences for the Inuit population, which could have been two to three times larger.

💡 This event highlights the importance of upholding women's rights and medical ethical standards, as well as the necessity of reliable information and informed consent in medical procedures.

Context

The event relates to periods of Denmark's historical policy of enforced surveillance, during which contraceptive technologies were increasingly applied.