Intrauterine contraception with levonorgestrel: a comparative randomised clinical performance study.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Gynecology
• Contraception

Background:

• Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are effective reversible contraceptives.
• Levonorgestrel-releasing IUDs (LNG-IUDs) and copper IUDs are common options.
• Comparing performance and side effects is crucial for patient counseling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical performance of two LNG-IUDs with different release rates against a Nova-T copper IUD.
• To evaluate continuation rates, reasons for termination, and menstrual bleeding patterns.

Main Methods:

• A randomized clinical performance study.
• 327 women received a levonorgestrel IUD; 156 women received a Nova-T copper IUD.
• Follow-up was conducted over 12 months post-insertion.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences in reasons for termination were observed between the three devices.
• Continuation rates were high for all devices: 84.1% and 81.4% for LNG-IUDs, and 87.5% for Nova-T.
• Menstrual bleeding and spotting duration were significantly shorter with both LNG-IUDs compared to the Nova-T device.
• No infections were reported in any group.

Conclusions:

• Levonorgestrel-releasing IUDs demonstrate comparable continuation rates to the Nova-T copper IUD.
• LNG-IUDs offer a significant advantage by reducing menstrual bleeding and spotting duration.
• Both LNG-IUDs and the Nova-T IUD are safe and effective contraceptive options with no reported infections.