Indications and reasons for discontinuing the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS)

Abstract

Objectives:  to identify the main indications and reasons for discontinuing the use of the Levonorgestrel-Releasing Intrauterine System (LNG-IUS).

Methods:  a cross-sectional study was carried out from medical records of 327 women who used the LNG-IUS 52mg between January 2011 and December 2016 at a public hospital in the Northeast of Brazil.

Results:  the main indications for the use of the LNG-IUS were: contraception (32.7%), myoma/metrorrhagia (28.7%) and endometriosis/pelvic pain (22.3%). Of the 327 women, 68 (20.8%) had discontinued using the device. The most frequent reasons for discontinuation were: expulsion (9.2%), LNG-IUS expiration (3.7%), bleeding (2.4%) and pain (1.5%). Most patients had no difficulty in the insertion and did not require anesthesia/sedation. Among the 30 women who expelled the device, 17 (56.7%) had used it for metrorrhagia and myoma, 8 (26.7%) for contraception, and 5 (16.6%) for endometriosis/pelvic pain.

Conclusions:  the LNG-IUS is a well-accepted contraceptive method, with therapeutic applications for some gynecological conditions and a low expulsion rate.

Key words: Contraception; Contraceptive effectiveness; Levonorgestrel; Long-acting reversible contraception; Progesterone-releasing intrauterine devices

Resumo

Objetivos:  identificar as principais indicações e razões para a descontinuação do uso do sistema intra-uterino liberador de levanogestrel (SIU-LNG).

Métodos:  foi realizado um estudo transversal a partir de prontuários de 327 mulheres que usaram o SIU-LNG 52mg entre janeiro de 2011 e dezembro de 2016 em um hospital público do Nordeste do Brasil.

Resultados:  as principais indicações para o uso do SIU-LNG foram: contracepção (32,7%), mioma / metrorragia (28,7%) e endometriose / dor pélvica (22,3%). Das 327 mulheres, 68 (20,8%) haviam descontinuado o uso do dispositivo. Os motivos mais frequentes de descontinuação foram: expulsão (9,2%), expiração de SIU-LNG (3,7%), sangramento (2,4%) e dor (1,5%).

Conclusão:  a maioria dos pacientes não teve dificuldade na inserção e não necessitou de anestesia / sedação. Entre as 30 mulheres que expulsaram o dispositivo, 17 (56,7%) o utilizaram para metrorragia e mioma, 8 (26,7%) para contracepção e 5 (16,6%) para endometriose / dor pélvica. O SIU-LNG é um método contraceptivo bem aceito, com aplicações terapêuticas para algumas condições ginecológicas e baixa taxa de expulsão.

Palavras-chave: Anticoncepção; Eficácia contraceptiva; Levanogestrel; Contracepção reversível de longo prazo; Dispositivos intrauterinos liberadores de progesterona

Introduction

The Levonorgestrel-Releasing Intrauterine System (LNG-IUS) was initially developed as a device for contraception. Its use is now recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), and it is considered one of the most effective long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods.^1,2

In the mid-1990s, the LNG-IUS was proven to be an effective treatment for menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea owing to its inhibitory effect on endometrial actions with consequent atrophy and a decrease in the thickness of the uterine endometrium.^3,4

Non-contraceptive benefits of the LNG-IUS, including treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding, were reported in a systematic review conducted in 2015.⁵ Currently the LNG-IUS is recommended as the first-line treatment for menorrhagia in the United Kingdom, and it is approved in 120 countries as a contraceptive method and in 115 countries to control menorrhagia.⁶ Among other non-contraceptive uses, other researchers have reported proven benefits of the LNG-IUS in the management of dysmenorrhea by decreasing pelvic pain, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and to treat endometriosis and adenomyosis.^7,8

On the basis of the WHO eligibility criteria, the LNG-IUS can be used safely by both multiparous and nulliparous women, as well as by women in other clinical situations. It is contraindicated in cases of suspected or confirmed breast cancer, malignant disease in the cervix, malformation or distortion of the uterine cavity, active pelvic infection, suspected or confirmed pregnancy, and uterine bleeding of unknown etiology.^8,9

Complications associated with the insertion of the LNG-IUS include uterine perforation, cervix laceration, inadequate device placement, and expulsion of the device.¹⁰ In addition to complications, other situations that make it difficult or impossible for LNG-IUS insertion include: stenosis of uterine cervix, distortion of the uterine cavity and pain.⁹ The postpartum period while women are still breastfeeding, history of cesarean delivery, and inexperience of the health professionals can also add to the previously mentioned difficulties.¹⁰

The reasons for the removal of the LNG-IUS include changes related to menstrual bleeding pattern, and although less frequent, hormonal changes causing such as weight gain, acne and mastalgia.^11,12 Expulsion is another reason for discontinuation of the use of the LNG-IUS.¹³

In addition to expanding the contraceptive options available to women seeking effective, reversible, and safe methods, the LNG-IUS has been very cost-effective method.^14,15 The study by Pepe et al.¹⁵ showed that the LNG-IUS could be costeffective when compared with other hormonal methods. The present study aims to identify the main indications to use the LNG-IUS 52mg and the main reasons for discontinuation of use.

Methods

A cross-sectional observational study was carried out at the Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP). The medical records of 327 women who used the LNG-IUS between January 2011 and December 2016 were analyzed.

We collected the following information from the patients’ medical records: sociodemographic variables (education, residence place, profession, and marital status), biological variables (date of birth, race, and disease status), reproductive/gynecological data (age of menarche, age at first intercourse, number of sexual partners, number of gestations, births, abortions and types of births) and LNG-IUS variables (date of insertion, physician who performed the insertion, indications, any difficulty in insertion, use of anesthesia/sedation, and continued use of the device or reason for discontinuation).

The data was entered into a database created on Microsoft Excel. The distribution of absolute and relative frequencies was performed by program R, version 3.3.1. Pearson's chi-square test was applied to verify association between two variables. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant.

This project was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of IMIP, with CAAE No. 59253516.5.0000.5201.

Results

The mean age of the 327 women at the time of the LNG-IUS insertion was 35 ± 8 years, and 107 (32.7%) had 8 to 11 years of schooling. The majority of the women (n=256; 78.3%) came from the Metropolitan Region of Recife and 168 (51.4%) were married or in a stable union. Only 56 (17.1%) were nulliparous and among the parous, 153 (46.8%) had a previous cesarean section (Table 1).

Table 1
Distribution of biological and sociodemographic characteristics among the women using the LNG-IUS.

Variables	N=327	%
Age between 30-39 years old (mean age - 35 ± 8 years)	137	41.9
Schooling between 8-11 years	107	32.7
Living at Metropolitan Region of Recife	256	78.3
Married / stable union	168	51.4
Nulliparous	56	17.1
Parous	269	82.2
Previous cesarean section	153	46.8

• LNG-IUS = Levonorgestrel-Releasing Intrauterine System.

Among the main indications to use the LNG-IUS device, 107 women (32.7%) chose this method for contraception; 94 (28.7%) women chose for treating myoma and/or metrorrhagia; 73 (22.3%) for endometriosis associated with pelvic pain, and 27 (8.3%) for hematological disease. Other indications (n=26; 8%), included post-abortion contraception, women with renal transplantation, and PMS.

Sixty eight (20.8%) women discontinued the use of the LNG-IUS. Thirty (9.2%) of them discontinued by expulsion, 8 (2.4%) discontinued for bleeding and 5 (1.5%) for pelvic pain. Other reasons for discontinuation (n=13; 4.0%) included weight gain, acne and desire to have children. Finally, 12 women (3.7%) wished to change the device at the end of LNG-IUS lifespan. Among the 30 women who expelled the device, 17 (56.7%) had used it for metrorrhagia and myoma treatment (Table 2).

Table 2
Distribution of the main indications to use the LNG-IUS and the main reasons for discontinuation of the LNG-IUS.

Main indications to use	N=327	%
Contraception	107	32.7
Metrorrhagia / myoma	94	28.7
Endometriosis / pelvic pain	73	22.3
Hematological disease	27	8.3
Other indications	26	8.0
Main reasons for discontinuation
Expulsion	30	9.2
Bleeding	8	2.4
Pelvic pain	5	1.5
End of LNG-IUS lifespan	12	3.7
Other reasons	13	4.0

• LNG-IUS = Levonorgestrel-Releasing Intrauterine System.

Difficulty in the insertion of the LNG-IUS occurred in 49 (15.0%) women and only 15 (4.6%) women were required anesthesia/sedation. Insertion difficulty was significantly associated with nulliparity (p = 0.002) and the need for anesthesia/sedation (p = 0.006). There was no association between the insertion difficulty and type of delivery (p=0.060) (Table 3).

Table 3
Association between difficulty in insertion and parity, type of delivery and necessity of anesthesia/sedation.

Variables	Difficulty in insertion				Total		p
	Yes		No
	n	%	n	%	n	%
Parity							0.002
Nulliparous	16	28.6	40	71.4	56	100.0
Parous	33	10.1	236	72.6	325	100.0
Type of delivery							0.060
Vaginal	7	7.0	91	93.0	98	100.0
Previous cesarean section	23	15.0	130	85.0	153	100.0
Necessity of anesthesia/sedation							0.006
Yes	6	40.0	9	60.0	15	100.0
No	43	14.0	267	86.0	310	100.0

Discussion

The women in this study had sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics commonly found in studies evaluating long-term contraceptive methods, as the LNG-IUS.^10,16,17

At the time of LNG-IUS insertion, their mean age was 35 (± 8) years old and had between 8-11 years of schooling. A study that followed 61,448 patients over seven years in six European countries recorded a mean age of 37.4 years among women who opted for the LNG-IUS.¹⁰ Probably because women in reproductive age group are searching for contraceptive methods with high efficacy and safety.^14,18

In addition, women with higher levels of schooling who are more informed about the safety and efficacy of LARCs and may be more motivated to choose this type of contraception in order to avoid an unplanned pregnancy. Most of the women in this study had eight or more years of schooling, and this level of schooling is similar to PNAD (Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílio/National Household Sample Survey) data, which showed an improvement in the educational level in the Brazilian population.¹⁹ According to the CHOICE contraceptive project, which included 9,256 women from St Louis region, in the United States (USA), women with less education and financial restrictions had greater difficulty in obtaining contraceptive methods.¹⁸

Although contraception was the most frequent indication for the insertion of the LNG-IUS, other indications are described as high efficacy of the device in the reduction of bleeding and gynecological pathologies treatment.⁵ In the present study, some women used the method to treat uterine bleeding, myoma and adenomyosis. Endometriosis associated with pelvic pain and hematological disease were also the reasons to insert the device, according to other studies.^5,7,17

The use of the LNG-IUS for the treatment of endometriosis associated with pelvic pain is well documented. This treatment is effective in relieving pain, leading to an improvement in the quality of life of women with endometriosis.^5,7,8 The expansion of the indications for the LNG-IUS insertion is due to its mechanism of action, which promotes endometrial atrophy with consequent control of uterine bleeding and pain.³ On the other hand, the LNG-IUS device may present adverse effects that lead women to discontinue the method.²⁰

Among the 327 women in this study, 68 (20.8%) discontinued the use of the device. The main reason for discontinuation was the device expelled spontaneously (9.2%), similar to a study performed with 481 women in the USA whose percentage of spontaneous expulsion was 9.6%¹⁶ and another study carried out in the USA involving 5,403 women using the device with an expulsion rate of 10.1%.²¹ A 7-year randomized controlled trial in 20 centers in nine countries found a lower expulsion rate (8.2%).²² It is interesting to observe that this large WHO study²² was a contraceptive trial where all the women involved had used the LNG-IUS for contraception while in our study there were patients using LNG-IUS for gynecological pathologies treatment which may favor the expulsion.

Of the thirty women who expelled the LNG-IUS in our study, the majority had inserted the device for treating metrorrhagia/myoma. This is in line with a study that found a significantly high rate of spontaneous expulsion of the device in women with uterine pathologies.²¹

Discontinuation for bleeding-related complaints occurred in 8 (2.4%) LNG-IUS users. This rate was higher than a trial that assessed 3-year data on the efficacy and safety of a LNG-IUS conducted at 29 clinical sites in the USA (1.5%).²³

Besides this, the large WHO study²² found a cumulative rate of method discontinuation due to bleeding problems higher in the LNG-IUD than the TCu380A group. And also, the increased bleeding volume and frequency were associated with reduced short-term satisfaction in LNG-IUS users among participants.²⁴

Most of the women in our study were multiparous, coinciding with data from Youm et al.¹⁶ study, in which multiparous women were the majority in the sample. This may be explained because in the past intrauterine devices have been recommended only for women who have already had children. The LNG-IUS expanded the indications for intrauterine devices, including contraception for nulliparous and this indication became more frequently and supported by scientific evidence.^9,11,25

Parity has also been considered a factor that may be related to the difficulty in insertion of the LNG-IUS^9,10 although some studies reported no difficulty in the insertion in nulliparous.^1,11,25 In the present study, the nulliparous tended to experience greater difficulty with the insertion of the LNG-IUS. One explanation for this could be because for many years, the insertion of a copper IUD in nulliparous was contraindicated,¹¹ which has led to a lower ability of the professionals for inserting the LNG-IUS in this group of women.

In this study there was no association between difficulty with insertion of the device and women with previous cesarean section. It is known that the area of scar tissue changes in the isthmus region after cesarean section may hinder the passage of the device during insertions. Although a history of cesarean section is not contraindicated for the LNGIUS insertion,¹¹ a study compared the difficulty of insertion among women with and without a previous cesarean section found that most of the women who presented difficulty in insertion had a history of cesarean delivery.⁹

It is important to consider the limitations of the present study. Since it is a cross-sectional retrospective study, some medical records were incomplete or illegible.

This study concluded that the main indication for the use of the LNG-IUS was contraception. Most of the women had good adherence to the method, had no difficulty in insertion and did not require anesthesia / sedation.

Randomized and controlled prospective studies evaluating a greater number of women using the LNG-IUS, especially in public hospitals and clinics may produce robust scientific evidence. These results could alert public health managers about the benefits of LNG-IUS in the public service and improve women’s health care.

References

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  05 Aug 2020
• Date of issue
  Apr-Jun 2020

History

• Received
  20 Nov 2019
• Accepted
  30 Mar 2020