title: Therapeutic use of the LNG IUS, and counseling.
abstract: The intrauterine release of levonorgestrel (LNG) alters the function of the endometrium. This phenomenon offers special health benefits for users and a manner of local intrauterine therapy. In this review we discuss use of LNG-releasing intrauterine system (LNG IUS) in treatment and prevention of anemia and in the therapy of menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea. The antiproliferative effect of the LNG IUS on the endometrium offers targeted therapy against the proliferative action of estrogen on the endometrium during hormone replacement therapy. The LNG IUS as an alternative to sterilization is also discussed. There are also promising therapeutic fields such as use of the LNG IUS in the treatment of endometriosis and in the protection of endometrium exposed to tamoxifen during breast cancer treatment. Special attention is paid to counseling because successful use of the LNG IUS requires good training of the providers and extensive counseling of users.
authors.affiliation: Steroid Research Laboratory, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pakarinen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Toivonen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Luukkainen
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003376:Counseling; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007436:Intrauterine Devices, Medicated; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000188:drug therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D016912:Levonorgestrel