title: Levonorgestrel levels in serum and uterine flushings in women bearing LNG-Cu-IUD.
abstract: Radioimmunoassay was employed to measure levonorgestrel levels in serum and uterine flushings in women using intrauterine device releasing both copper ions and levonorgestrel (LNG-Cu-IUD) after one-year insertion. In the meanwhile physical characteristics of cervical mucus have been observed in women using LNG-Cu-IUD and compared with those using Tcu-220c-IUD. The mean concentrations of levonorgestrel in serum and uterine flushings (5 ml) were 84.53 pg/ml and 266.93 pg/ml respectively. In LNG-Cu-IUD group, the cervical mucus lacking in ferny crystals had a viscosity significantly higher than that in Tcu-220c-IUD group, suggesting that the local high concentration of levonorgestrel changed the environment of the uterine cavity and the cervical mucus status.
authors.affiliation: Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: X R
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007435:Intrauterine Devices, Copper; D007436:Intrauterine Devices, Medicated; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D016912:Levonorgestrel; D003300:Copper