Safety and efficacy of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system: recent insights

Abstract

This overview focuses on the recent developments in the safety and efficacy of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) on established indications, namely contraception, treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding as well as endometrial protection during estrogen therapy for menopausal symptoms. The LNG-IUS is one of the most efficacious reversible contraceptive methods available. It can be used by various patient groups, including nulliparous women, during breast-feeding, after elective pregnancy termination, in women suffering from various pre-existing medical conditions and menopausal women. This review provides an overview of the published literature on the LNG-IUS from the last 5 years, focusing on cost–effectiveness, safety-related outcomes, the use of LNG-IUS by young and/or nulliparous women as well as by various different patient groups. After decades of dominance by the ‘the Pill’, it is likely that in the future, long-acting reversible contraceptives, such as the LNG-IUS, will becom...