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  • Clinical performance of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system in routine use by the UK Family Planning and Reproductive Health Research Network: 5-year report

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Clinical performance of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system in routine use by the UK Family Planning and Reproductive Health Research Network: 5-year report
  1. Michael Cox, FRCOG, MFFP, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (Retired)1,
  2. John Tripp, MD, FRCPCH2 and
  3. Sarah Blacksell, BA, Research Fellow3
  1. Nuneaton, UK
  2. School of Postgraduate Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, UK
  3. School of Postgraduate Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, UK
  1. Correspondence UK Family Planning and Reproductive Health Research Network, c/o John Tripp, Department of Child Health, Church Lane, Heavitree, Exeter EX2 5SQ, UK

Abstract

Objectives This study was undertaken to determine the performance of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG IUS) in British women in routine clinical use.

Design Doctors working in general practice and at family planning clinics throughout the UK who collaborate in the UK Family Planning and Reproductive Health Research Network were responsible for the fitting of 678 LNG IUSs.

Results Gross cumulative event rates at 5 years per 100 women were pregnancy 1.0, expulsion 5.9, removal for bleeding problems 16.7, removal for pain 4.3, and removal for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) 1.2. Removals were also required for side effects that may be due to absorbed levonorgestrel. Positive effects include effective contraception and considerably reduced quantity of bleeding for most participants.

Conclusions A need was identified to counsel women about the early bleeding problems including the possibility of oligomenorrhoea or amenorrhoea. This is considered to be very important as it will help women to persevere so that they can enjoy the longer-term benefits.

https://doi.org/10.1783/147118902101196225

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    Footnotes

    • ↵* Principal investigators: A Barnett (Exeter), P Barnes (Richmond, London), J Bateman (Portsmouth), J Bland (Nuneaton), D Booker (Newport), R Bradbury (Barnsley), S Brown (Birmingham), G Cardy (Bristol), S Carr (Glasgow), H Cooling (Bristol), M Cox (Nuneaton), D Craggs (Southampton), J Dewsbury (Birmingham), J Elstub (Richmond, London), S Green (Cumbria), B Hanson (Wiltshire), T Laverty (Wiltshire), A Main (Richmond, London), H Massil (London CHSL), C Nash (Norwich), E Oloto (Leeds), R Owen (Taunton), S Randall (Portsmouth), S Richardson (West Yorkshire), S Rowlands (Biggleswade), J Rumsey (Birmingham), C Smith (Thetford), J Tattersall (Cumbria), A Taylor (Sheffield), A Thomas (Newport), R Tolcher (Southampton), C Tupper (Cumbria), A Turner (Wiltshire), M Walling (Boston), C Watson (London CHSL), E M Watt (Bristol)