Continuation of the Levonorgestrel-Releasing Intrauterine Device Among Adolescents With Endometriosis

To estimate the 1-year continuation rate of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) in adolescents with endometriosis, and the frequency at which additional systemic hormonal treatment (HT) is utilized.

A retrospective cohort study was performed of patients aged 12-21 years who underwent laparoscopy for endometriosis and LNG-IUD insertion at a single tertiary care institution between 2018 and 2021.

We evaluated 224 adolescents (mean age = 17.0, SD = 1.8 years) who underwent LNG-IUD placement during laparoscopic evaluation for endometriosis. Stage I endometriosis was most common (84.4%), followed by stage II (13.0%). Of 221 with follow-up, 208 (94.1%) had HT added or continued postsurgery. The most common additional HT was norethindrone acetate (42.5%), followed by combined hormonal contraceptives (34.8%). The 1-year LNG-IUD continuation rate was 92.0%. There were 18 IUD removals (8%) by 1 year, and the median time to removal was 118 days (interquartile range = 159; range 8-293). Use of additional HT was associated with a lower hazard of IUD removal within the first year of use (hazard ratio = 0.19, 95% confidence interval: 0.06-0.56, P < .001).

The majority of adolescents used the LNG-IUD with additional systemic HT for endometriosis management. While overall continuation was high, adolescents who were using LNG-IUD and HT were more likely to continue LNG-IUD than those who were not utilizing additional HT.