Contraception and treatment in the perimenopause with a novel “frameless” intrauterine levonorgestrel-releasing drug delivery system: an extended pilot study

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the contraceptive performance, acceptability, side effects, and adverse events of a novel “frameless” intrauterine drug delivery system (IUS), FibroPlant-levonorgestrel (LNG) releasing 14 μg of LNG/day, in perimenopausal women. An ancillary objective was to evaluate the effect of the new IUS on menstrual blood loss in women with or without fibroids. The study, consisting of 109 women, suggests that FibroPlant-LNG IUS is an effective contraceptive. No pregnancies occurred with the FibroPlant-LNG IUS. The total use-related discontinuation rate at 1 year is low (1.9) and results in a high rate of continuation of use (98.1). In addition, the FibroPlant-LNG IUS demonstrated a high level of effectiveness in reducing bleeding in women with excessive menstrual flow even when medium or large fibroids were present. However, an effect on the size of the fibroids could not be demonstrated. Patient satisfaction with the method is high, which is a prerequisite for continuance of the method, and may be linked with the advantageous design characteristics of the FibroPlant-LNG IUS, the virtual absence of hormonal side effects, and the low incidence of irregular bleeding and spotting even during the first 3 months after insertion of the FibroPlant IUS. Counseling remains important though to explain to women about the possible occurrence of changes in their menstrual pattern that may sometimes be annoying but harmless. It is concluded that many women over age 40 years could substantially benefit from the advantages of this intrauterine drug delivery technology which provides contraception and treatment of a possible associated condition such as menorrhagia. The treatment also creates the opportunity to pass through the transitional perimenopausal period smoothly and to benefit fully from the advantages hormone replacement therapy offers in terms of treatment of short-term symptoms and long-term prevention by gradually replacing the waning estrogens.