A levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system for the treatment of dysmenorrhea associated with endometriosis: a pilot study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of an intrauterine system releasing 20 μg of levonorgestrel per 24 hours in the long-term treatment of recurrent dysmenorrhea in women already operated on conservatively for endometriosis. Design: A prospective noncomparative pilot study. Setting: A tertiary care and referral academic center for patients with endometriosis. Patient(s): Twenty parous women with recurrent moderate or severe dysmenorrhea after conservative surgery for endometriosis who did not want further children. Intervention(s): A levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system was inserted in each woman within 7 days of the start of a menstrual cycle. Main Outcome Measure(s): Variations in severity of dysmenorrhea during treatment according to a 100-mm visual analogue scale and a 0–3-point verbal rating scale, modification of a pictorial blood-loss assessment chart devised to evaluate the amount of menstrual flow, and degree of satisfaction after 12 months of therapy. Result(s): One woman was lost to follow-up after achieving amenorrhea and expressing satisfaction, and 1 requested system removal because of weight gain and abdominal bloating. In another subject, the levonorgestrel intrauterine system was expelled 3 months after insertion. The menstrual patterns in the remaining 17 women were characterized by amenorrhea in 4 cases, hypomenorrhea or spotting in 8, and normal flow in 5. Baseline and 12-month follow-up mean ± SD blood loss scores were 111 ± 36 and 27 ± 26, respectively. At the same time, mean ± SD visual analogue and verbal rating scale scores dropped, respectively, from 76 ± 12 to 34 ± 23 points and from 2.5 ± 0.5 to 1.2 ± 0.5 points. Four women were very satisfied with treatment, 11 were satisfied, 2 were uncertain, and 3 were dissatisfied at 12-month follow-up. Conclusion(s): Because of the amenorrhea or hypomenorrhea induced in most women, a levonorgestrel intrauterine system greatly reduced menstrual pain associated with endometriosis and achieved a high degree of patient satisfaction.