Treatment of primary and secondary dysmenorrhea with a novel 'frameless' intrauterine levonorgestrel-releasing drug delivery system: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect on menstrual pain in women with primary and secondary dysmenorrhea of a novel 'frameless' intrauterine drug delivery system (IUS), FibroPlant-levonorgestrel (LNG) (Contrel Research, Belgium), releasing 14 microg of LNG per day. An ancillary objective was to evaluate the effect of the new IUS on menstrual blood loss.


METHODS
An open label, non-comparative ongoing pilot study. Eighteen insertions were performed in women between 16 and 52 years of age by the first author. Four insertions were performed in nulligravid women. Eight women were categorized as having primary dysmenorrhea and 10 as having secondary dysmenorrhea. Twelve women complained of heavy bleeding. Three women had significant fibroids and three were suspected to have adenomyosis.


RESULTS
The trial covers a period from a minimum of 3 months up to 33 months. By the end of August 2001, 12 recruited women had at least 12 months' follow-up and six had between 3 months and 1 year. All women reported much reduced pain, or no pain at all, and strongly reduced bleeding which started as soon as 1 month after insertion of the FibroPlant-LNG IUS. There was one exception; this woman had significant fibroids. She reported much reduced bleeding but this was not as pronounced as in the other women in the study. All women are continuing to use the method.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this preliminary study suggest that the FibroPlant-LNG IUS, releasing 14 microg ofLNG per day, is a safe and effective method for the treatment of primary and secondary dysmenorrhea. The absence ofa frame is particularly advantageous in these women. Of significant added importance is the high effectiveness in reducing menstrual bleeding, a symptom often present in women with menstrual pain complaints, and the fact that the system provides effective contraception. The low daily release rate of LNG from the FibroPlant-LNG IUS results in a virtual absence of hormonal side-effects.
Wildemeersch
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D
Contrel Research, Technology Park Zwijnaarde, Ghent, Belgium.
Schacht
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E
Wildemeersch
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P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007436:Intrauterine Devices, Medicated / Q000009:adverse effects; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D016912:Levonorgestrel