PMID: 11336429May 5, 2001Paper

The levonorgestrel intrauterine system: more than a contraceptive

The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care : the Official Journal of the European Society of Contraception
K Andersson

Abstract

Levonorgestrel can be released directly into the uterine cavity, where it causes pronounced endometrial suppression, although the dose of hormone is so low that the effect on ovarian function is negligible. The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) consists of a plain Nova-T device with a silastic reservoir attached to the vertical arm. The silastic reservoir is impregnated with levonorgestrel and is covered with a rate-limiting silastic membrane. The release rate oflevonorgestrel is approximately 20 microg/24 h for at least 5 years. The contraceptive efficacy of the LNG-IUS has been studied in a randomized, comparative trial over 5 years. A total of 1,821 women were fitted with the LNG-IUS and were compared with 937 women who were using the copper-releasing device, Nova-T. The continuation rates were 46.9 for the LNG-IUS and 44.5 for the Nova-T. The cumulative gross pregnancy rates were 0.5 for the LNG-IUS and 5.9 for the Nova-T. The Pearl index after 5 years was 0.09/100 woman-years for the LNG-IUS and the ectopic pregnancy rate was 0.02/100 woman-years. There were less withdrawals because of bleeding problems and pelvic inflammatory disease in the LNG-IUS group compared with the Nova-T group, but there were ...Continue Reading

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