title: Patterns of bleeding and body iron stores during the use of a levonorgestrel-releasing intracervical device.
abstract: A levonorgestrel-releasing intracervical device (LNG-ICD) was inserted in 198 women. The subjects registered bleeding and spotting days on special cards, which were analyzed after one year of treatment. Bleeding and spotting days gradually declined from sixteen during the first month to seven during the seventh month, and they remained under that level until the end of the first year. There were more days of spotting than bleeding. Eleven per cent of the subjects experienced at least 90 days non-bleeding interval during the first year of LNG-ICD use. There were no significant changes in blood hemoglobin concentrations during the first four years of LNG-ICD use. The mean serum ferritin concentration increased from 38 micrograms/l at the beginning to 97 micrograms/l at the end of the fourth year.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007436:Intrauterine Devices, Medicated; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D008598:Menstruation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D009644:Norgestrel; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D005293:Ferritins